He was by Night Raid, the sire of Phar Lap, out of the good racemare and broodmare, Marsa (1911) by Martian, a mare that traced to Manto.
As a two-year-old he had eight starts and won two, the Dunedin J.C. Juvenile (by two lengths) and Hopeful Handicaps, having dead heated with Full Feather in the latter race.
[3] A Metropolitan Handicap start agreed upon and was won by Loquacious (a sister to Windbag) with Nightmarch, who carried 9 st. 12 lbs.
After the race Connolly received numerous threatening phone calls, some indicating possible personal injury.
[4] Nightmarch firmed from 20–1 to 3–1 favourite before he won the AJC Epsom Handicap (carrying 9 stone 4 pounds).
[1][7] As a seven-year-old Nightmarch did not win again, although he was second to Peter Pan by half a length in the Rosehill Hill Stakes next spring.