Royally Bred Exceed And Excel Filly Power Ballard Burns Down the Flemington Straight

Mark Smith - Saturday January 20

Out of the place in just one of five starts in Sydney, the 3-year-old Exceed And Excel filly Power Ballard took an instant liking to the Flemington straight when leading from barrier to post in the Be A Mate, Nominate Trophy (1100m).

As easy as you like (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Jye McNeil for the unstoppable Waterhouse/Bott stable, Power Ballard stuck fast along the rail to defeat the All Too Hard filly Stefi Magnetica by one and three-quarter lengths with the Puissance De Lune filly Patchouli Dream a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

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A Phoenix Thoroughbred homebred, Power Ballard advanced her record to two wins, a second, and two thirds from six starts with earnings of $144,525.

Power Ballard is the first foal of Pierro’s unraced sister Right Chord, a $1,050,000 buy for James Harron Bloodstock when carrying Power Ballad at the 2020 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

“I was on her in a jumpout, and she really impressed me,” McNeil said.

“It was Gai’s idea to head to the rail – coming down from Sydney gave her something to follow. It felt like she was never going to get beaten.  

Atta girl (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

“She went through her gears nicely and was strong at the finish.

A sister to 5-time Group 1 winner Pierro and a half-sister to Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes winner and Group 1 Australian Oaks, and Group 1 BRC Queensland Oaks runner-up Ambience (Street Cry), Right Chord has a yearling filly by Capitalist, a colt foal by Acclaim (IRE), and was covered by Yes, Yes, Yes. 

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Race Result - Be A Mate, Nominate Trophy (Bm78) 1100m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.07
1
Power Ballard
- 3f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Right Chord (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jye McNeil 57.5
2
1.8
Stefi Magnetica
- 3f All Too Hard (AUS) x Mid Summer Music (AUS) (Oamaru Force (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Jamie Kah 57.5
3
2.5
Patchouli Dream
- 3f Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Peckish (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: Tatum Bull 54.5
4
2.7
Austmarr
- 3f Exosphere (AUS) x Itameri (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 60
5
4.2
Celestial Storm
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Sebring Dream (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: B Shinn 58.5
6
5.2
Spicy Margs
- 3f Deep Field (AUS) x Crossing The Abbey (AUS) (Helmet (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Beau Mertens 58.5
7
6.5
Savee
- 3f Grunt (NZ) x Celebrity Belle (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 55.5
8
6.6
Herbert Park
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Elite Elle (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: A W Noonan Rdr: J Noonan 56
9
10.6
Rhetorical
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x My Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: Celine Gaudray 56
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