Racing: Xcellent exhibition

Xcellent will definitely gallop between races with stablemate Clean Sweep at Taupo on Wednesday.

The gallop will replace Saturday's Foxbridge Plate, from which Xcellent was withdrawn when the Te Rapa track was rated heavy.

It will also be a vital piece of preparation for Xcellent's attack on the $200,000 Mudgway Fair Tax Stakes at Hastings on Saturday week.

Co-owner Paul Moroney yesterday reiterated that the A$5 million Melbourne Cup in November is the main aim for Xcellent, on Friday night announced Horse Of The Year.

"It's the most valuable race, we feel he'll run the 3200m and this might be the year he'll get into the race with the lightest weight," said Moroney.

"We arrived at the race then worked backwards with four, perhaps five races as a lead-up.

"The problem we have is that for a Melbourne Cup you ideally need a plan and setting a definitive plan in New Zealand in the spring is difficult because of our wet tracks.

"The luxury we do have is that we have a horse we know we can get ready on the training track if necessary. We can make use of things like exhibition gallops."

The stable had been confident of a big showing.