Excelling at his first group test

SINGAPORE:  Aug 23, 2020
 
EXCELLING holding off BOLD THRUSTER (No.1 ) and SURPASS NATURAL
- SNTC photo
 

Despite winning four of his first nine starts in Singapore, EXCELLING was neglected in the betting when he lined up for his first group race in the S$250,000 Merlion Trophy on the polytrack at Kranji here today.

It was his first big test, and up against BOLD THRUSTER who already had five Group 3 wins to his name. Also in the line-up was SURPASS NATURAL (six wins) who won in Class 2 last time out, with EXCELLING finishing fifth in that race on resuming after the pandemic break.

But jockey A'Isisuhairi Kassim had the last laugh in the Group 2 feature, opting to tuck behind the pace on the rails despite drawing the No 1 barrier in the nine-horse field.

A'Isisuhairi switched EXCELLING out from the rails to go after the leader AUGUSTANO at the top of the straight with BOLD THRUSTER and SURPASS NATURAL already in contention wide out.

But the effort by the early leaders soom took their toll. EXCELLING darted through a gap halfway down the home stretch to win by half a length.

The six-year-old, who did not race at two but had eight runs at three and four for two wins in Australia, has now five times in 10 starts in Singapore.

  RESULTS AT A GLANCE:   Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position
 

1

 COUNTOFMONTECRISTO 2019 STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M
13 EL CHAPO J Lim R Maia

1
(6 b.nz.g Niagara - Italian Princess by Bertolini)
6 From The Navy S Baertschiger V Duric

2
9 Miraaj C Brown M Lerner

3
1 Champagne Finale D Logan S Shafrizal

4
 

2

 DISTINCTIVE DARCI 2018 STAKES
RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1200M
1 THE MAREEBA MANGO DL Freedman R Maia

1
(3 ch.a.g Snitzel - Moon Is Up by Woodman)
11 Speedy Missile M Walker K Hakim

2
3 Entertainer M Walker R Woodworth

3
5 Sky Eye L Dragon S John

4
 

3

 INFANTRY 2017 STAKES
CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4 MOON FACE C Brown R Maia

1
(4 gr.arg.g Zensational - Caraluna by Pure Prize)
3 Crown Gift KY Young S John

2
10 Street Party J Peters J van der Merwe

3
9 Northern Sun D Koh K A'Isisuhairi

4
 

4

 SPALATO 2016 STAKES
RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1200M
3 PATTAYA M Clements L Beuzelin

1
(4 b.nz.g Sacred Falls - Do Ra Mi by Savabeel)
12 Special Ops J Ong N Zyrul

2
7 Commodore S Gray V Duric

3
14 Lady Fast D Koh R Maia

4
 

5

 EL PADRINO 2014 & 2015 STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M
15 STAR FIFTYTWO J Lim S John

1
(5 b.a.g Denman - Oneworld Onedream by Galileo)
8 Vetri D Meagher S Shafrizal

2
9 Fireworks C Brown V Duric

3
5 Zoffspeed R Le Grange T Krisna

4
 

6

 SPEEDY CAT 2013 STAKES
OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
11 STORMY VIEW R Le Grange T Krisna

1
(4 br.arg.m Orpen - Stormy by Elusive Quality)
12 Winning Power CT Kuah ZX Tan

2
3 Cru Bourgeois S Gray R Maia

3
2 Showbound M Walker K Hakim

4
 

7

 BETTER THAN EVER 2012 STAKES
CLASS 3, DIV 1 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
10 ARC TRIUMPH J Peters M Nizar

1
(6 b.nz.g Showcasing - Wind Of Savannah by Savabeel)
1 Master Ryker M Walker V Duric

2
9 Magnifique L Dragon M Lerner

3
4 Lim's Zoom D Meagher R Woodworth

4
 

8

 TUXEDO MOON 2011 STAKES
CLASS 5, DIV 3 - 1200M
2 CIZEN BOSS J Tan M Lerner

1
(5 ch.nz.g Pentire - Miss Thorn by Thorn Park)
3 Easy South East D Meagher S Shafrizal

2
5 Free Fallin' S Baertschiger M Kellady

3
9 Sayonara C Brown V Duric

4
 

9

 MEXICAN ROSE 2010 STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1600M
6 MERYL J Peters R Maia

1
(4 b.nz.m Rock 'N' Pop - Ruby Rouge by Red Ransom)
4 Shepherd's Hymn M Clements L Beuzelin

2
10 Auspicious Day L Khoo TH Koh

3
3 Magnificent Gold C Brown K A'Isisuhairi

4
 

10

 BEAU BRUMMEL 2009 STAKES
CLASS 3, DIV 2 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
7 ARARAT LADY C Brown R Maia

1
(5 b.nz.m Battle Paint - Desire by Danehill Dancer)
9 Flak Jacket S Baertschiger M Kellady

2
3 Wassergeist S Baertschiger V Duric

3
4 Watch Out Boss D Meagher K A'Isisuhairi 3
  *Deadheat for 3rd      
 

11

 WHY BE 2006-2008 STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1400M
1 QUADCOPTER H Takaoka M Lerner

1
(5 ch.a.g Zouster - Pinova by Fastnet Rock)
11 Bear Witness S Gray WW Cheah

2
2 Governor Of Punjab C Brown V Duric

3
9 Bushido M Clements R Munger

4
 

12

 MERLION TROPHY
SINGAPORE GROUP 2 (WFA) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6 EXCELLING DL Freedman K A'Isisuhairi

1
(6 b.a.g Manhattan Rain - Princess Ruhie by Fusaichi Pegasus)
1 Bold Thruster M Clements L Beuzelin

2
4 Surpass Natural L Dragon J van der Merwe

3
2 Skywalk J Peters V Duric

4
 

13

 NINETYFIVE EMPROR 2004 & 2005 STAKES
CLASS 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
2 ELITE POWER M Walker R Maia

1
(6 b.e.g Sakhee's Secret - London Welsh by Cape Cross)
1 Nowyousee KS Tan S Noh

2
10 Muraahib DL Freedman K A'Isisuhairi

3
3 Pennywise R Le Grange M Lerner

4
 

14

 QUE EXPRESION 2003 STAKES
CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
7 GAMELY D Logan R Maia

1
(5 b.a.g Golden Archer - Tiny Temptress by Favorite Trick)
10 Gold Prize R Le Grange T Krisna

2
2 Chalaza S Burridge WH Kok

3
11 Star Bullet J Lim I Azhar

4