Racing: Cox Plate next on agenda

Star Matamata 4-year-old Xcellent showed his readiness for the Melbourne spring features after

powering away to another outstanding victory, this time in New Zealand's richest race, the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings.

The Pentire gelding started a raging hot favourite for the 2040m feature at the Hawke's Bay meeting and lived right up to his star billing, with a convincing 1 1/4 length win to show he has returned to racing bigger and better than ever.

In doing so, he maintained an unbeaten record in six starts on home soil and showed he is right on target for the Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double.

It will be the winner of last season's New Zealand Derby second trip across the Tasman.

He attempted to complete the double in the AJC Derby at Randwick in March, but a heavy track put paid to his chances and he managed only eighth out of 12 runners.

Returned to New Zealand, Xcellent resumed with an amazing, last-to-first win in the weight-for-age Mudgway Stakes (1400m) on the first day, August 27, of this year's Hawkes Bay spring carnival.

Co-trainer Mike Moroney, who is based in Melbourne but has been in Matamata overseeing the gelding's training in the past couple of weeks, said the horse will now head to Australia with the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 likely to be his next start.

Moroney had been contemplating the Caulfield Cup, before his ultimate aim, the Melbourne Cup on November 1.

"The Cox fits in better as a lead-up to the Melbourne Cup and he's looking more and more like a Cox Plate horse, with the turn of foot he showed today," Moroney said after the win.

Xcellent came from last at the 600m to swoop around the field, with blistering acceleration.

Even a knock from Distinctly Secret on the point of the home turn couldn't halt his momentum, as he swept to the lead early in the straight and never looked like being beaten, stretching his beaten rivals out behind him.

Distinctly Secret maintained a strong run to finish second, four lengths clear of Waitoki Dream, with Envoy, three-quarters of a length back in fourth.

Jockey Michael Coleman described Xcellent as easily the best horse he has ridden.

"Man, he's got a big motor. Distinctly Secret came out and turned us sideways on the point of the turned, but he never flinched and just took off," he said.

Distinctly Secret's rider Reece Jones summed up Xcellent's dominance by saying: "My horse was one of the true weight-for-age horses in the race and went a slasher, but he was beaten by a champion."

Waitoki Dream, after three lack-lustre efforts this campaign, showed something more like his true potential with a good third and rider Noel Harris said the addition of blinkers to the horse's gear made a big difference. He could now be prepared for some of the cup races in the coming months.

Envoy's effort for fourth has persuaded trainer Ken Kelso to make another payment for the Melbourne Cup for the horse.

Balmuse, the second favourite, ran fifth after enjoying a perfect run and rider David Walker said the very firm track conditions didn't allow the horse to stretch out properly.

Magnetism dropped out to finish 13th out of 16 and rider Jim Collett said he is probably better suited to 1600m and on easier footing.