The progressive three-year-old filly I Am Excited continued on her upward spiral in Saturday's Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens when coming from midfield under a rails-hugging ride by Blake Shinn to make it three wins on the trot.
The David Pfieffer-trained filly had been unfairly tagged as a non-winner after registering just one success in her first seven starts but she had made just one start outside stakes class before going on her unbeaten run.
Supporters took a deep breath when Shinn elected to stick to the rails on a rain-affected track. There was no cause for concern as the daughter of Snitzel hit the line strongly to defeat the Godolphin filly Isaurian (Exceed And Excel) by half a length with Za Zi Ba (All Too Hard) one and a quarter lengths back in third. (photo Steve Hart) .
"I came here thinking she was my best ride and it's great to start Golden Slipper day on a great note," Shinn said.
"She's a treasure to ride, she's very push-button, settles nicely and has a great sprint. She's a very talented horse.
"Full credit to David Pfieffer he has placed her perfectly and it's great to get the job done for the connections who are good friends of mine.
Pfieffer said he would up his sights for I Am Excited with the Group II Arrowfield Sprint scheduled to be her next start.
"She's in great form, three in a row is hard to do especially in big races," Pfieffer said.
"She will head to the Arrowfield (Sprint) in three weeks' time - it's a good prizemoney race at Group II level."
With her second stakes win, I Am Excited advances her record to 4 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 10 starts with earnings of $349,625.
A half-sister to the Group III VRC Frances Tressady Stakes winner Flippant (Hinchinbrook), I Am Excited is the second stakes-winner from the first three foals of the General Nediym mare Lady Beckworth.
Purchased by Newgate Farm's Henry Field, on behalf of SF Bloodstock, for $400,000 at the 2016 Bell River Thoroughbreds dispersal, Lady Beckworth is a half-sister to Regard (Zabeel) whose only two foals were the superstar Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and Group 1 winner Commanding Jewel (Commands).
Newgate Farm will consign a full brother to Flippant and a half to I Am Excited at the upcoming Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 194 and he is pictured below.
Lady Beckworth missed in 2014 and 2016 and was covered by I Am Invincible last spring.
There will be no shortage of Snitzel's at Easter. The champion stallion had 64 lots catalogued although four of those have been withdrawn.
