KEY POINTS:
You forget what real class is.
Xcellent reminded us yesterday when he produced one of the best domestic performances in several decades to win the $77,000 Sir James Fletcher Stakes at Ellerslie.
Thank the world for Trackside Television.
A minuscule Monday afternoon crowd at Ellerslie is not a fit audience for what Xcellent produced to blow away class opposition.
You can say the best domestic performance in a couple of decades because Sunline's best performances were in Australia.
And this was achieved at Xcellent's second race start in a little more that two years.
Hardened horsemen stood with mouths gaping as Xcellent ran past the likes of Sir Slick and Wahid as if they were a different class of horse.
The reality is they are.
"What sort of horse is that," said Keith Hawtin, who has prepared big winners here, in Australia and in Dubai.
His head was shaking as he said it.
Xcellent last raced in June and there was always the thought - even among many of his experienced camp - that the horse would be one race away from being able to produce his brilliant best.
Yet once again the $1.5 million winner showed us his remarkable ability to reach race fitness almost between serious gallops.
It is a unique talent.
The last 600m by the leaders yesterday was clocked in a slick 34.53.
Xcellent came from near last at the 600m and must have shaved a significant slice off that time.
As devastating as Xcellent was yesterday, co-trainer Paul Moroney believes there is probably five lengths improvement in the horse, which is scary, especially so for the opposition.
There is no finite measurement of outstanding racehorses.
Rider Michael Coleman reasons it this way: Jim Gibbs, about to retire, has had some marvellous horses and rates Tidal Light the best of them.
Coleman rode Tidal Light and considered her the best until Xcellent came long.
Apart from Sunline, there hasn't been anything like him.
Coleman, one of racing's most conservative commentators, said yesterday's win was scored with a fair bit more ease than most realised.
And even a significant bump on the home bend did not dent his confidence.
Once he got into the clear it was all over.
The $200,000 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day is Xcellent's next big mission and beyond that Moroney was conservative over plans.
"Look, if this horse was a 3-year-old and had sound legs we'd be about to charge around the world with him.
"But leg problems are a great leveller when you're travelling overseas.
"The Australian Cup early next year is a real target, but we might keep him to Australasia this preparation."
But Moroney added the camp had not entirely ruled out races like the $3 million Singapore International Cup in May. Xcellent grabbed pacemaker Sir Slick fairly late, but was travelling so fast he quickly extended his margin out to two lengths at the finish.
"The best horse since Sunline and we've had to give him 4kg," was rider Bruce Herd's summation.
This was a much improved effort by Sir Slick.
Despite the track reading coming up as 1.8 yesterday morning, the inside section of the track was was nowhere near as fast as the middle for the last four or five races.
The late winners came from the middle of the track or wider.
Sir Slick was committed to staying close to the inside and he fought bravely with his big weight. So did Wahid, whose line inside was dictated by Sir Slick, requiring him to finish off in the worst part of the track.
Wahid raced too fiercely, suggesting he was very fresh with his five weeks between races, and he blew significantly afterwards.
"He'll improve with that, but I'm not looking forward to meeting Xcellent again in the Zabeel Classic," said trainer Allan Sharrock.
