KEY POINTS:
Xcellent delighted the Moroney brothers with his jumpout at Matamata yesterday morning and remains on schedule for a first-up run in the A$1 million ($1.14 million) Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane on June 9.
"It was a very good hitout, just what we wanted, and has enhanced his fitness to another level," co-trainer Paul Moroney said.
His brother Mike travelled over from Melbourne to watch the gallop of Xcellent, who is on the comeback trail after injuring both foreleg tendons early last year.
He had stemcell surgery and a long recuperative period after that.
Paul Moroney said Xcellent galloped with two stablemates from a standing start on the Matamata track, which he rated as slow.
The horse galloped 1000m in 1m 1s, with jockey Michael Coleman putting the pressure on halfway through the gallop, reeling off sectionals of 11.7s and 11.3s between the 600m and 200m before closing in 12 flat.
"He wasn't under extreme pressure, but went some quick fractions," Moroney said.
"He pulled up well from the gallop and Michael Coleman was bullish about where the horse has improved and his fitness levels 16 days out from the race.
"We couldn't be happier about where he is at."
Xcellent will have four more track gallops in the next 11 days before the trip to Brisbane can be confirmed.
Coleman has been confirmed as jockey for the Stradbroke if the Moroneys decide to go.
Moroney said he realised the Stradbroke was an ambitious target, but one the stable believed was possible, as Xcellent was a true group one horse.
Xcellent is unbeaten in New Zealand, his six wins including two Kelt Capital Stakes and the New Zealand Derby, while in Australia he ran third in Makybe Diva's 2005 Melbourne Cup.
'I know people are probably looking at us sideways, thinking this is a very big ask for a horse who has been off the scene for a long time, but he has had a lot of grounding for it," Moroney said.
"We know it's a big ask, but he is a special horse and special horses can do special things."
- NZPA
