The Nigel Tiley-trained galloper won the listed Gore Guineas courtesy of a patient Kylie Williams ride.
Williams confirmed after the race the victory was as easy as it looked.
"She got held up a bit, but once into the clear she did it easily. I just changed my grip and I didn’t have to pull the stick," the jockey said.
Excelleration was last out of the gates before Williams took inside runs to save ground before being held up at the 400m.
Once into the clear, the filly dashed past the leaders to record an impressive win. Excelleration will no longer be a northern raider when she steps out in her next listed race assignment on Champions Day at Wingatui early next month. The filly will transfer to Riccarton trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong for the remainder of her southern campaign. Excelleration races in colours of her part breeder-owner Wellfield Lodge and her victory was a timely one for the stud. The Manawatu breeders will offer a Fastnet Rock half brother to their Gore Guineas filly in the book 1 sale at Karaka next week. Excelleration’s northern counterparts could not match her effort on Saturday.
Cambridge filly Global Thinking ran on fairly into sixth, while New Plymouth gelding Vincent ran last.
Kiwi Ida was the best of the Southerners. She came off an economical run similar to Excelleration’s but could not match the winner’s big finish.
Third placegetter Pipiana and fourth placegetter The Sparkle were in a race of their own at the 400m, breaking away from the field by four lengths, but the pair faded out of winning contention in the home straight.
Johnny Jones capped consistent form to win Gore’s open sprint, race 4.
The John and Karen Parsons-trained galloper was twice placed on the Otago summer circuit and topped off those efforts with a tough on-pace effort under apprentice rider Tina Comignaghi.
— Jonny Turner, dditional reporting NZ Racing Desk
