The Xcellent one returns.....

[_ed_]

Great to see that Xcellent has recovered from his injuries, looked for a while like he may not race again.

However, going into the Stradbroke fresh? 20 months after his last race? That's a massive ask. I really like the horse but the Stradbroke is a tough race (not to mention over a distance short of his best) and I can't say I agree with them targeting it.

There's no guarantee he's the same horse he was before the injury, and I'd prefer to see him eased back into racing rather than dumped straight in at the deep end.

But he is a horse who keeps surprising me - "he can't win the Derby at his 3rd career start", "1400m G1 Mudgway fresh? Can't win...look, he's last with 400 to go!"...

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Great to see that Xcellent has recovered from his injuries, looked for a while like he may not race again.

However, going into the Stradbroke fresh? 20 months after his last race? That's a massive ask. I really like the horse but the Stradbroke is a tough race (not to mention over a distance short of his best) and I can't say I agree with them targeting it.

There's no guarantee he's the same horse he was before the injury, and I'd prefer to see him eased back into racing rather than dumped straight in at the deep end.

But he is a horse who keeps surprising me - "he can't win the Derby at his 3rd career start", "1400m G1 Mudgway fresh? Can't win...look, he's last with 400 to go!"...

Thanks for your insight. i know nothing about the race, only about the horse so i appreciate it.

Hope he does well and comes home safe.

[_ed_]

Me too, his trainer is a guy who knows what he's doing so I'm sure they're confident he'll be able to handle the challenge alright. He's also been entered in the Kelt Stakes in October, that's our biggest race for older horses and it's over 2000m (10f). He won it in 2005, I think that's much more his race.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Me too, his trainer is a guy who knows what he's doing so I'm sure they're confident he'll be able to handle the challenge alright. He's also been entered in the Kelt Stakes in October, that's our biggest race for older horses and it's over 2000m (10f). He won it in 2005, I think that's much more his race.

Can't wait!

The latest.....

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=103932

[Scurlogue Champ]

If he runs in the Stradbroke, it will be for a good jaunt around the track.

No chance to win there...

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

If he runs in the Stradbroke, it will be for a good jaunt around the track.

No chance to win there...

That's okay... he doesn't need to win.

Another update..... looking good.

http://www.virtualformguide.com/cgi-...llentpulls.txt

[my miss storm cat]

Yea!

Any news is good news.....

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=104726

..... AND he wrote in his diary.

http://www.xcellent.co.nz/diary.page

Thursday, May 24, 2007
Well folks, I've got some news for you. I can still run like the wind! I found that out this morning when Micky gave me a slap down the shoulder in my jumpout and let me loose. And, boy, did I go, leaving my two stablemates Get Even and Gomez in my dust, well mud actually. This morning I had another jumpout down the back straight at Matamata and this time I heard the boys saying that it was time for me to have a real burnout and I didn't let them down. I've got this jumping from that gates really sorted now and bounded out first. The other two kept with me for 500m but then Micky pushed my button and I quickly upped the tempo and left them in my wake. I felt nowhere near as puffed as I did a couple of weeks ago so I know I'm getting close to racing fitness. Everyone seemed very pleased with me and there was even a camera crew there today so I pranced off the track to give them a bit of a show. I'm a bit of a show off by nature and that's the first time I've seen the cameras for a while. Chrissie tells me that, as long as everything goes to plan, her and I are off to Brisbane a fortnight today. I've kept a nice sleek coat so that I don't look out of place in the sun over there and there's even talk that I might get to show myself off on a beach while I'm there. Time to dust of the speedos... Catch ya soon, Stanley