Racing: Xcellent to be let off the leash

MELBOURNE - Xcellent will gallop at Moonee Valley tomorrow after having his first look at the scene of next Saturday's Cox Plate battle with Makybe Diva at the weekend.

Greg Childs, standing in for fellow jockey Michael Coleman who rode at Rotorua on Saturday, was pleased with Xcellent's training effort.

"It was more of a look at the course than anything else, but he worked over a mile [1609m] evenly and came home his last 600m in 37.5 seconds," Childs said.

He said the Kelt Capital Stakes winner was a professional.

"He tucked his head down and enjoyed his work."

Officially, Xcellent was timed at one minute 55.81 seconds for the 1600m and 24.75secs for his final 400m.

Childs said he handled the tight turning track at Moonee Valley well, but the markers pegs for the day's training were out so far from the rail, he couldn't give a definitive opinion about Xcellent's ability to handle the sweeping bends.

Transtasman trainer Mike Moroney said Xcellent would be back for the "breakfast with the stars" training session tomorrow morning.

"The mare [Makybe Diva] has had plenty of practice at this track, so we are just trying to catch up," Moroney said.

He said Xcellent was an adaptable galloper who had won at both right and left hand directions in New Zealand and should handle the Moonee Valley circuit.

Makybe Diva was the last of 12 gallopers to go around the valley on Saturday.

She gave her galloping partner Pentacolo six lengths at the 600m mark and reeled her in with 50m to go, sprinting her last 400m in 23.8secs, the best time of the morning.

"She felt good. Absolutely spot on for next week," said her jockey Glen Boss.

- NZPA