Posted on 10/31/2005 5:00:00 PM PST by BlackVeil
Paul Moroney, Matamata's managing owner of leading New Zealand Melbourne Cup hope Xcellent, has a message to his supporters: "Don't worry, he'll do us proud."
A four-time winner at racing's elite Gr I level, Xcellent rates as our best chance of success in tomorrow's $A5 million ($NZ5.3 million) race at Flemington.
Xcellent is paying $21 at Melbourne bookies, but has all the attributes of a Melbourne Cup winner – blistering speed at the finish and the ability to relax early in his races.
Moroney, whose brother Michael trains Xcellent in partnership with Andrew Scott at Matamata, says he is confident last year's New Zealand Derby winner has what it takes to emulate recent New Zealand Melbourne Cup winners Jezabeel (1998), Brew (2000) and Ethereal (2001).
He said despite the fact that Xcellent was having his first run over 3200m tomorrow, he was confident of upstaging the Australian and international contenders in the Cup.
"He's bounced through the Cox Plate so well. He's fit and he's absolutely thriving. We couldn't be happier with him."
Xcellent, a winner of the Gr I Mudgway Stakes and Kelt Capital Stakes, both at Hastings, at his last two runs before his ninth in the $A3 million Cox Plate, could emulate Brew, who won the 2000 cup for Michael Moroney.
Moroney, who part-owned Brew, said Xcellent's preparation had gone according to the letter of planning.
"We set him for this race a long time ago and probably the only surprise along the way was that he won the Mudgway," he said.
Moroney said the European horses, Makybe Diva and Railings were the ones to beat. He said those discarding Xcellent as a Melbourne Cup hope on his Cox Plate run failure were wrong because "he's a very good stayer".
"You can't just rely on a sprint to win a Melbourne Cup - you've got to have more attributes than that," he said.
A big carnival day, and in the state of Victoria, it is a public holiday.
Well - what are your thoughts on the Cup?
I have overlooked the favorites, and favor Xcellent and Demerger. I must admit, I have never picked the winner of the Melbourne Cup - it is notoriously an open race.
What I like about Xcellent, is that he is a big strong horse - it is a long race, and can be quite a rough race. Also, he is from New Zealand, and although they bring horses from every part of the world, Kiwi racehorses still rule. No one need advise New Zealanders on how to breed and train a horse.
ML/NJ
Also pretty amazing that Michael Kinane, who is from Ireland, rode here on Saturday and he's down by you now.
ML/NJ
Yes - on a weekday. I am told that Australia is the only country in the world to have a public holiday for a horse race.
I backed the Diva! I haven't got a bad record when it comes to picking Cup winners!!!
That's great. Congratulations for getting the winner. My pick came in third.
It was a great race, such excitement at the historic win.
Yes, the excitement continues. What an amazing horse!
,,, well, the race was run and here I am, days late.
Thanks cos your a Kiwi! No Australian would late for the Melbourne Cup ... no way mate.
,,, caught the race, late to the thread. One out of two ain't bad.
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