Expensive Exceed and Excel Filly Seeking Black Type

Media Release - Wednesday December 9

In-form hoop Lisa Allpress has a good handle on the leading contenders in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on Saturday, where she will ride last-start Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) runner-up Key.

Key - Race Images

Allpress guided the Stephen Marsh-trained Zee Falls to success at Otaki that day but was a keen observer of Key's performance, knowing the Gary Harding-raced Exceed And Excel filly well from riding her in her early jumpouts and a trial for trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard.

"I've always had a good association with Johno and Hollie's stable and their strike rate at the moment is amazing. They are getting a winner every 2.7 starters," Allpress said.

"She was really good at Otaki last time and fought strongly all the way to the line. She's unfortunately drawn out (in barrier 12) but after riding her in trackwork this week, we were thinking about riding her a couple of spots further back anyway.

"She's been quite handy and might just be hitting the front too soon. She's always having to work from those barriers but her manners are improving with every start.

"She's settling better and fourth-up over a mile, she should be hard to beat."

Key, an A$550,000 yearling purchase, won both her trials before a three-length debut win at Otaki, leading into second placings at Awapuni and in the Wellington Stakes.

Allpress has insight into a couple of Key's main dangers too, having ridden unbeaten Savabeel filly Shezzacatch to win at Awapuni last month and partnered Regal Ruby in a New Plymouth jumpout last week.

Advertisement

"Shezzacatch is quite highly-strung but she's only had two appearances and she's won them both well," Allpress said.

"She's a really nice horse and she's got plenty of upside there third-up and she looks one of the hardest to beat. I did ride Regal Ruby in a jumpout and she ran along really nicely and finished off really well. 

"She's a nice filly and there's plenty of other nice ones in there as well. It's always a good race, the Eulogy."

Allpress, who spent more than two months on the sidelines at the beginning of the season to recover from hip replacement surgery, has surged into the top five of the premiership with 23 wins in the space of the past five weeks.

On the Eulogy undercard, she expects a bold run from the Marsh-trained Felaar in the Central House Movers 2100.

"It will be my first ride on him. He hasn't been doing a lot lately but his best form would have him right in this and he's trained by Stephen Marsh, who gave me my 100th Group and Listed winner with Zee Falls," Allpress said.

"I'm extremely happy about the way things are going at the moment. I'm rapt with the support I've been getting. I love riding and I'm just happy to be out there doing it." - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Magic Carpet Writes New Chapter for Family
Jenna McLeod got a massive thrill when watching the latest generation of her family’s breed score at stakes level at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.