Friday 23rd July 2010
Excelebration burns to victory
EXCELEBRATION shaped like a juvenile with a big future as he surged to victory following in the Sportingbet.com EBF Conditions Stakes tonight.
The Exceed And Excel colt completed a top night for jockey Darryll Holland, who was also on the mark aboard Mountain Hiker in the Sportingbet.com Maiden Stakes.
Trained by Marco Botti, Excelebration was sent off a red-hot 5/6 favourite after his win in a Doncaster maiden earlier this month.
Holland rode the perfect race, settling Excelebration in the midfield before producing him for a winning burst from the furlong marker. On hitting the front he zipped clear of his rivals to win by two lengths.
A delighted Botti: “We’ve always liked this horse a lot. Darryll said he picked up straight away and he never looked like he was going to get beat.
“I’ll discuss plans with the owners but he will probably go for a Listed race or something better.
“He is still growing but I think six (furlongs) is the perfect trip for him at the moment.”
The Sportingbet.com handicap went the way of Lujeanie for trainer Dean Ivory and jockey Philip Robinson.
The son of Lujain, a 9/1 chance, tracked the pace before hitting the front going into the Dip.
He stayed on gamely up the hill to hold off the challenge from the favourite Deacon Blues.
Ken Ivory, father of the winning trainer, said: “That was lovely and he just needs a good jockey to make his mind up for him. He’s a good horse on his day but a bit in and out.”
Spirit Is Needed took advantage of an ease in class to score by a length in the Sportingbet handicap. Proven on fast ground and at the trip, the Mark Johnston-trained 5/1 shot hit the front over 2f out and stayed on well for pressure for jockey Greg Fairley.
It was the top weight’s second win of the season and a career best, coming off a 6lb better mark than his last triumph.
Bryony finished with a flourish to take the Sportingbet.com Nursery for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes.
Hughes looked to have it all to do on the 7/2 chance but she responded well to his urgings to swoop late and return the winner by three-quarters of a length.
Richard Hannon Jnr, assistant to his father, said: “I didn’t think she was going to win at half way but she has a tremendous attitude and did it well. She will definitely get a mile in time.”
Hannon completed a double when Beaumont’s Party(6/1) bagged the Sportingbet handicap in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.
The Sportingbet.com maiden went the way of the Jeremy Noseda-trained Mountain Hiker(11/4JF) for owner Saeed Suhail.
The son of Azamour made an encouraging debut when third at Windsor last month and looked to have come on for that outing.
Jockey Darryll Holland settled Mountain Hiker in the midfield just off the pace which was set by Donna Elvira.
He travelled strongly throughout and quickened up well when meeting the rising ground to record a three and three-quarter length win over La Concorde.
Noseda said: “I don’t think that was the strongest Newmarket maiden ever but he did it well. He is an improving horse who should stay further in time.”
Snoqualmie Star (4/1) put up a game performance under jockey Ryan Powell to land the Sportingbet.com Fillies’ handicap for trainer David Elsworth.
The daughter of Galileo, a winner on the all-weather at Kempton last week, made every yard of the running and stuck to her task well to win by a two lengths.
Racing resumes on the July Course tomorrow at 1:45.
By Jackie Jarvis
