Excites Ready to Explode into a Star

Sunday, 06 August 1313 00:00

Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter unleashed three of his spring heavyweights in exhibition gallops at Randwick on Saturday, amongst which was an untapped three-year-old with a name reflecting his ability that could be poised to claim the mantle of Australia's best youngster.

Excites has furnished into a strapping and imposing three-year-old which oozes class and judging by his narrow but commanding winning margin over stable mate Patezza he could be ready to develop into a star.

"I am very pleased with him," commented Walter in a tone inferring that he was more excited than he wished to divulge.

"And he's really filled out into a lovely colt."

The well-related bay stormed onto the scene when winning the G1 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes in the autumn at just his third race start but was immediately sent to the paddock by Walter who is renowned for his patience.

"He will have another gallop on Tuesday before resuming in the Premiere on Saturday," revealed Walter.

"We will then run him in the Golden Rose two weeks later."

Walter was non-committal as to where Excites would venture after the Golden Rose but said a southern sojourn, targeting the Canterbury Guineas, was on the agenda.

"You never know he might not be a stayer so we will wait and see."

An inspection of Excites pedigree confirms Walter's query is justified.

By champion galloper Danewin from the brilliant multiple group winning mare Staging, Excites bloodlines do possess more speed than stamina but his pattern of racing suggests that perhaps 1600m-2000m is possible, if not probable.

After all, Staging did win the 1999 G2 Emancipation Stakes over a mile and was placed behind champion Tie The Knot in the 2000 G1 Chipping Norton over the same distance.

And his sire Danewin excelled over 2000m, recording all his five G1 victories over the mile-and-a-quarter - the 1994 Spring Champion Stakes, 1995 Doomben Cup, Rosehill Guineas, Caulfield Stakes and Mackinnon Stakes.

Walter's other gallopers, G1 winners Court's In Session and Patezza, will trial again at Warwick Farm on Friday.

Court's In Session, which flopped badly after winning brilliantly first-up during the Autumn, will resume in the Warwick Stakes on August 26 but Walter admitted the horse's future was still "up in the air" and he will be taken along slowly.

As for Patezza, last year's Doncaster Handicap hero will resume in the Show County Quality at Randwick in a fortnight and then run in the Tramway and Shannon Quality en route to a shot at another famous mile, the Epsom Handicap on October 7.