Excellerator

The three eye-catchers at the end of the Listed Rous Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday were Excellerator, Run For The Hills and Himalya. All three horses were held up out the back and, given how much pace there was on with Noble Storm and Inxile and Siren's Gift (who couldn't even get to the front) and their ilk in the line up, it is probable that the visual impression that their finishing efforts created was flattering, but all three are still worth noting. Excellerator had been outpaced in the Nunthorpe at a massive price on her previous start, when unsuccessfully tried in a visor for the first time, and was outpaced through the early stages of the race here as well. Stone last a furlong and a half out, she picked up impressively when she met the rising ground, and stayed on well despite being eased to finish four lengths behind the winner, but only two lengths off the places.

Third in the Princess Margaret last season, George Baker's filly ran really well on her debut this term to finish a close-up third behind Doncater Rover and Taqdeyr who were at their peak at the time. That was her last try over six furlongs and, while it appeared that she didn't quite get home over the trip, it is now probable that it was a lack of race fitness that saw her fade inside the final furlong. The strong impression from Thursday's performance is that she needs a sixth furlong, and she will be interesting if allowed to run over that distance now before the end of the season.

1st October 2009

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