Racing: Superstar in the making

Michael Coleman thinks Xcellent could end up a superstar.

You can understand statements like that from Derby winning jockeys, but Coleman always chooses his words carefully.

"If he can do what he's just done on only two race starts then, yes, he can become a superstar."

Coleman said winning yesterday was more enjoyable than taking last year's Derby for the same stable on Cut The Cake.

"I had to wait until the last 50m to know whether I was going to win last year. This was a lot different."

Coleman said he started to get confident when he was taking ground off the hot favourite, Cheval De Troy, halfway down the home straight even before he'd pushed the final button on Xcellent.

"You have to get confident when that's happening."

Even though he was well back in the field for most of the race, Coleman was always relaxed.

"There was a fair bit of trouble up front of me - Mandela copped some of it. I was lucky to miss all of that."

Stable manager Paul Moroney said the Cox Plate was an obvious target for Xcellent.

Coleman said the 3-year-old was learning a lot quickly.

"He used to take half a barrier trial to work up.

"His temperament is fantastic. He drops off the bridle any time you want him to.

"That was important today. When the pace dropped off and it became a muddling race, we'd have been in trouble if he hadn't relaxed."