Racing: Moroney team keep the faith

Mike Moroney and Michael Coleman know no one in Australia thinks Xcellent can win the Melbourne Cup.

And they're just fine with that. It means that finally the pressure is off.

Being in the Australian spotlight has never been a nice experience for Coleman.

He would like to forget his Cox Plate ride on Xcellent, but the Australian media is not about to let that happen any time soon.

New Zealanders know Xcellent is an extraordinary racehorse. But the stats are bad. He is unbeaten in New Zealand and is not only a maiden in Australia - he has been beaten out of sight in two appearances.

That both were on unsuitable wet tracks means nothing in Australia.

The one-time almost joint Melbourne Cup favourite has so far dropped out of contention in the eyes of Australians. Yesterday bookmakers were betting $18.

If that worried Moroney and his New Zealand jockey it was well hidden as they leaned on a Flemington running rail and soaked up the sun of a brilliant Melbourne morning.

Moroney won the 2000 Cup with Brew, but this is much tougher.

"I was confident a long way out that either Brew or our other horse that year Second Coming would win.

"This is more difficult. Brew and Second Coming were old, hardened stayers. You don't put pressure on a more delicate horse like Xcellent to really discover where he's at."

There are other concerns.

In 144 Melbourne Cups no horse has won with Xcellent's lack of experience. The baby of the field has had just eight race starts. Another negative is the No 17 barrier draw.

"I was hoping to settle him about two-thirds of the way back in the field, but from out there I don't imagine there will be many horses behind us early," said Coleman.

And then there is always the doubt about whether Xcellent is the right type of horse for 3200m.

"He could be too good to be a two-miler," admits Coleman.

But Coleman is a long way short of conceding this race.

"I give him a chance because of the way he relaxes. He'll go to sleep wherever he settles - that's his greatest asset."

Moroney has yet to do decide where he would like Coleman to release the brakes on Xcellent, but it will certainly be later than where Coleman asked Xcellent to sprint from in his unfortunate Cox Plate.

Coleman is well aware of the task.

"My job is to get on the back of something improving around the field from about the 800m.

"That will be the key, finding the right horse."

Moroney could not have Xcellent looking better. The 4-year-old's coat is right out and he is brighter in the eye than at any previous stage of his career. He is also rapidly losing that slightly immature air he had around the head.