Excelleration Wins Dramatic Adelaide Cup

Mark Smith - Monday March 11

The Launceston Cup is shaping as an important lead-up to the Adelaide Cup. Last year Aurora's Symphony won the Tasmanian feature before being edged out by Rebel Racer in the Cup. This year's Launceston Cup hero Excelleration went one better in Monday's $350,000 Tab Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville.

Under a ground-saving ride by Harry Coffey, the Richard Cully-trained son of Excelebration (IRE) never went around a horse to nose out the 5yo Alpine Eagle mare The Map under Jamie Kah,

The veteran 9-year-old Animal Kingdom gelding Skelm claimed third from Amade, who missed the start five lengths and gave Zac Spain a torrid ride after his irons broke not long after the start.

A lightly raced 7-year-old gelding, Excelleration advances his record to seven wins, six seconds, and a third from 19 starts with earnings of $623,650.

That's a great return on the $6,000 purchase for Emma Scott from the Riverina Downs draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

While Cully did not make the trip to Adelaide, Harry Coffey was in fine form.

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“When we were at Launceston the other day I nearly missed my ride in the next race in the presentations, they (owners) were talking about how it walked out as a foal at the yearling sales six years ago so I thought I’ll go and weigh in and come back out, there’s plenty of time," Coffey joked

“I just had to cop my medicine and I actually had him really well relaxed for the type of horse he is, and then Zac’s (Spain) iron broke and I was like ‘wowee, what am I going to do now?’ I didn’t know what Zac was going to do and to Zac’s credit he tried to ride a race without any irons and mind you he gave it a good steer because I was following him, so I was able to sneak through.

"I was in two minds, I really rated the Dan O’Sullivan horse (One Last Kiss) with Luke Currie on it, I’ve ridden her a fair bit and this was a target race for her so I followed her for a long way, and Richie wanted me to cut the corner, and I had in my mind I would’ve loved to have gotten on Jamie’s (Kah) back at some stage, but Ritchie was really keen to cut the corner, and it worked- we cut the corner alright, and we shot straight up the inside!”

“They (owners) look like they could drink until the yearling sales next week and then buy too many yearlings. So I’ll be getting out of here!”

Excelleration is the best of three winners from four to race for the Red Ranson (USA) mare  Rare Subject.

The winner of four races, Rare Subject, was a $6,000 purchase at the 2013 National Broodmare Sale. She has a 2-year-old colt by Vert De Grece (IRE) and missed in 2021.

Excelleration is one of 19 stakes-winners for Exceed And Excel's 4-time Group 1 winner Excelebration (IRE), which shuttled to Coolmore Stud for four seasons.

Excelebration (IRE) (image Mark Smith)

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Race Result - TAB Adelaide Cup Gr2 3200m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 3:23.49
1
Excelleration
- 7g Excelebration (IRE) x Rare Subject (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Richard Cully Rdr: H Coffey 53.5
2
0.1
The Map
- 5m Alpine Eagle (AUS) x This Moment (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: Jamie Kah 53
3
2.9
Skelm
- 9g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Lajoie (AUS) (Spinning World (USA))
Tnr: T D Kelly Rdr: Michael Poy 53
4
3.2
Amade
- 10g Casamento (IRE) x Sheba Five (USA) (Five Star Day (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Zac Spain 58
5
4.3
Roaring Engine
- 4g Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Kayla Crowther 53
6
6.2
One Last Kiss
- 4m Toronado (IRE) x St Trinians (AUS) (Black Hawk (GB))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: L Currie 53
7
6.6
Yellowbrick Road
- 5g Golden Horn (GB) x Crystal Path (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P Kearney Rdr: Jye McNeil 53
8
10.6
Sandastan
- 5g Epaulette (AUS) x Status Quo (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Garret Lynch Rdr: Sairyn Fawke 53
9
13.3
Alhambra Lad
- 6g Proisir (AUS) x Miss Relentless (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: D Yendall 53.5
10
15.4
Port Guillaume
- 7g Le Havre (IRE) x Keira (FR) (Turtle Bowl (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: J Holder 54
11
18.8
Eight On The Dot
- 5g El Roca (AUS) x Ready At Eight (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Scott Whittle Rdr: Ben Price 53
12
20.2
Lincoln King
- 9g Shocking (AUS) x Shi Kin Fly (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ms K Durden Rdr: D Tourneur 53
13
20.9
Tullaghan
- 6g Al Maher (AUS) x Tully Thunder (AUS) (Thunder Gulch (USA))
Tnr: T L Day Rdr: J Maund 53
14
27.5
Rapinoe
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Pepiniere (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: P A Chow Rdr: Alana Kelly 53
15
33.8
Oceanic Flash
- 6g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Pinot Gris (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Payne Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
16
46.9
Grand Pierro
- 4g Pierro (AUS) x Le Societe (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Craig Williams 53
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