KEY POINTS:
The Moroney stable will be happy to take a win with Xcellent in tomorrow's $77,000 Sir James Fletcher Stakes, but the brothers can see a different scenario that doesn't fit that profile.
"We believe he'll be going to the races competitive, will lodge a challenge somewhere down the home straight and probably be found wanting for fitness in the closing 100m," says co-trainer Paul Moroney.
Xcellent has raced only once in the two years since he finished third in Makybe Diva's 2005 Melbourne Cup, in the group one Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane in June this year.
Xcellent was given strong work at Matamata yesterday. "He needed something strong and it should have cleaned him up nicely for this race."
After the problems the stable have had with Xcellent, a win would be a great lift. "It'll be scary for the rest if he does, because he's going to pull a huge amount of improvement out of the race."
