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.
“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)
