Shortly after Singapore-based trainer Stephen Grey purchased the Exceed And Excel colt Oxley Road as a yearling for $125,000, he had the pleasure of watching his year older brother Exceedance spank the opposition by seven lengths at his career debut at Wyong.
Exceedance would prove himself one of the best horses in the nation highlighted by his success in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes before embarking on a stallion career at Vinery Stud.
Sent to Peter Moody, Oxley Road made a belated career debut at Flemington on January 21, but it proved worth waiting for.
The 3yo colt made light of a heavy track to win be a length and a half.
With just that one run under his belt, Oxley Road lined up in Saturday’s Group III Neds Zeditave Stakes (1200) at Caulfield and the result was the same.
With Luke Nolen in the saddle, Oxley Road controlled the race from the front to defeat It’sourtime (Time For War) by one and three-quarter lengths with the same distance back to Valaquenta (Street Boss) in third.
“He’s a very good colt, still doesn’t quite know what to do,” Moody said
“Only time we’ve had a bunny there for him in a trial he really quickened good.
“In his two runs he hasn’t had anything to chase and he’s got a bit lost, as you saw there. When he puts it all together he’s going to be a very good colt.
“You’ve seen him lead-up in two races and got totally lost.
“So, we’re probably going to have to grow a set of balls, find a fast horse and snag him because we’ve him put his head on his chest and really quicken. Everyone else hasn’t seen him quicken yet like I’ve seen him quicken.
“But he’s a very good colt.”
A $125,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for part-owner Stephen Gray, Oxley Road was bred by Nick Vass and is the second stakes winner from as many to race out of the stakes-winning Thorn Park mare Bonnie Mac, whose only other foal to race is Exceedance.
Her 2yo Sebring filly, Mac 'N' Cheese, made $300,000 to the bid of Spendthrift Farm at the Gold Coast last year
Bonnie Mac was on-sold by Newgate at the 2019 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale fetching $375,000 when bought by Allam Racing/Andrew Williams Bloodstock when in foal to Capitalist.
The resulting colt has been catalogued for the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Yarraman Park as Lot 222.
Sadly, he is her last foal as Bonnie Mac died in May last year.
