Excelling just keeps getting better
The noted frontrunner was initially outsped by Lim's Dream (Benny Woodworth) at the head of affairs this time around, but once he peeled off him to hit the front in the straight, he went on to stamp his class all over the race.
Group 3 New Year Cup winner Nowyousee (Marc Lerner) did give the $11 favourite's backers a late fright when he lengthened up a couple of lengths astern, but Excelling never relented in his gallop to the line to fall in by 1 ½ lengths from his bold challenger.
Lim's Dream lost no friends with the way he clung on along the rails to finish third another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 4.98secs for the 5 1⁄2 f on the Polytrack.
Excelling has now taken his record to four wins and two placings from seven starts for prizemoney in excess of $160,000 for owner-trainer Lee Freedman, who certainly holds the Manhattan Rain five-year-old in high esteem.
"It's great. This horse keeps climbing the ladder," said the Australian trainer who was bagging a double after Healthy Star scored earlier (see earlier report).
"He had no weight (50kgs) on his back, and it's a Class 2. We would have had to bring him back to Class 3 if he had not won.
"(Tan) Kah Soon's horse (Nowyousee) came with a strong challenge, but I think the weight difference (7.5kgs) helped He also likes the Polytrack and he scored a decisive win.
"I think this horse has found his niche here. What I like about him is he didn't have many runs back home and Joe Pride is a good trainer.
"He had good solid form there and he's a big horse, too."
Kok, who was also getting the lead-in for the second time after he made no mistake on hot favourite Ironclad (see earlier report) two events earlier, agreed that Excelling is an athletic individual who exudes power.
"He's a nice big horse. I ride him like I ride Augustus," said the Singapore champion apprentice jockey in allusion to another free-galloping horse from Freedman's yard.
"I just let him stride and he found more at the top of the straight. I didn't want Benny's horse to get too far ahead as he's also a good horse.
"I was happy to see my horse find another gear in the straight."
