KEY POINTS:
Xcellent is not certain to run in the $250,000 Mudgway Stakes at Hastings in September, co-trainer Paul Moroney said yesterday.
It is just over six weeks to the first leg of the Hawkes Bay group one spring treble at Hastings on September 1 but Moroney said Xcellent was at this point not being committed to the race.
"We haven't made a firm plan yet with Xcellent regarding the Mudgway," Moroney said. "We are just wondering if 1400m these days just might be a little bit too sharp for him."
Xcellent was a stunning winner of the 2005 Mudgway before taking out the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings at his next start.
The following month Xcellent ran third in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) but did not race again for 19 months after suffering tendon injuries to both front legs.
His racing career resumed in Brisbane on June 9 in the A$1 million ($1.11 million) Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm but he was well beaten in finishing 18th of 20 runners.
Xcellent returned to his Waikato stables at Matamata two nights later and Moroney said the horse had not missed a beat in training.
"He was back in his box on the Monday night and back at the training track on the Wednesday morning."
The Pentire 5-year-old gelding has been restricted to three-quarter work in three gallops so far but is to step out in a trial event at Te Teko in the Bay of Plenty on August 7.
Stablemate Jokers Wild is also to line up at Te Teko. Moroney said he was a definite for the Mudgway.
"Xcellent's probably an 80 per cent chance to run at this stage whereas Joker's Wild is 100 per cent - he's really going to be set for it."
Jokers Wild has not raced since completing a three-race Australian campaign two months ago.
The Black Minnaloushe colt was third in the Australian Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne but then well beaten in the Ryder Stakes (1500m) and the Goodwood Handicap (1200m).
Earlier in the season Jokers Wild completed a sequence of six wins when taking out the Hawkes Bay and Wellington Guineas.
Jokers Wild was yesterday a $9 fourth favourite for the Mudgway on the TAB's fixed-odds market. Xcellent was at $13. The first three favourites were Seachange ($3.60), Miss Finland ($5) and Sir Slick ($8).
Moroney said Jokers Wild would also run at Taupo trials a fortnight after Te Teko but Xcellent was unlikely to do the same.
Xcellent could instead be reserved for the second leg of the Hawkes Bay treble, the $250,000 Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) on September 22.
- NZPA
