With the short-priced favourite Savacool being eased out of the race due to cardiac arrhythmia, Saturday's Listed ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens was fought out by four tough old warriors with Savacool's stablemate Exoteric (GB) enjoying his day in the sun.
After holidaying at Chris Waller's Gold Coast stable in the early part of the spring, Exoteric (GB) has won the Port Macquarie Cup and Listed City Tatts Cup at Randwick since returning to the main stable in Sydney.
With Red Excitement setting a solid pace, James McDonald eased Exoteric into a challenging position on the turn and the son of Champs Elysees was strong to the line in defeating Our Century (IRE) by one and three-quarter lengths with Red Excitement another one and a quarter length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
"I think he is the most improved horse in the stable," Waller told AAP.
"He won the Port Macquarie Cup which was a good race and then the Tattersalls Cup.
"We will get him ready for the Christmas Cup in two weeks."
A 3-time winner in England when trained by Charlie Hills, Exoteric advances his record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $416,714.
Purchased by Waller for 180,000 guineas out of the Juddmonte Farms draft at the 2016 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Exoteric is one of five winners from nine to race out of stakes-winning Hennessy mare Short Dance who won the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury and the Listed Michael Seely Memorial at York and was twice Group III-placed.
