The New Zealand thoroughbred industry was dealt a double blow on Saturday with the death of two outstanding sires.

Following the news that Cambridge Stud’s champion stallion Zabeel had passed away, Waikato Stud's r Group One sire No Excuse Needed died after suffering a fatal paddock accident on Saturday afternoon.

No Excuse Needed, who was 17, was the leading NZ first season sire in 2006-07 and won the champion New Zealand two-year-old sire title the following season.

The handsome Machiavellian sire came to stand at Waikato Stud on the recommendation of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Andrew Seabrook and made an immediate impact.

He sired 17 stakes winners, with his Group One stars including the AJC Oaks-winning champion New Zealand three-year-old Daffodil and the Waikato Stud home-bred I Do.

I Do won 15 races, the most of any horse to sport the Waikato Stud silks including six wins at black-type level.

“No Excuse Needed was a sire who gave us some great thrills,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.

“He left the two Group One winners I Do and Daffodil and it was a real privilege to have raced both of these horses ourselves.

“Up until last year, he was also responsible for the stud’s $480,000 yearling price high thanks to his son out of Lodore Mystic who was bought by Peter and Kim McKay.”

Peter McKay also trained No Excuse Needed’s Karaka Million winner Vincent Mangano.