Exceed Lives Up To His Name
Illawarra Mercury
Friday March 7, 2003
HANDSOME youngster Exceed And Excel lived up to the raps and confirmed his early Golden Slipper support with a brilliant win in the Wests Tigers Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury Park last night.
A latecomer to the racing ranks, Exceed And Excel showed good early pace on debut to sit behind speedy Newcastle youngster Billy Whiz to the home bend before jockey Hugh Bowman hit the throttle.
Exceed And Excel, by leading sire Danehill from Patrona, burst clear and then easily held off the challenge of Gai Waterhouse's Freeze (Jim Cassidy), with Billy Whiz (Allan Robinson) a tiring third.
Freeze opened favourite on the NSW TAB at $1.60 before easing as the smart money came for Exceed And Excel.
Although only placed in a January barrier trial at Rosehill, the colt firmed from $3.80 in to $2.60 at post time.
Rosehill trainer Tim Martin has been patient with the winner, a $26 shot in TAB fixed odds Golden Slipper markets moments before the race.
But in the light of last night's performance, that quote is expected to tighten today.
Runner-up Freeze wasn't disgraced and tried hard to run the winner down at his first start following four barrier trial wins.
Bob Thomsen's Resistor also ran home well to finish fourth, while the Bede Murray-trained Special Report was simply run off his legs.
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury