Excellantes gave his sale bound group winning half sister a boost when he scored a dashing win in Saturday’s listed Chief de Beers Handicap (1110m) at Doomben.
A $105,000 graduate of the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale, Excellantes went into the race with six wins and a stakes placing and importantly for the stable he notched a maiden stakes success.
Excellantes is trained by Rob Heathcote, who narrowly missed winning the Doomben 10,000 with Buffering, and the win was double reason to celebrate.
The stable will present his Group Two winning half sister Funtantes (Easy Rocking) to go under the hammer at Lot 261 during the second session of the National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday.
Funtantes, a winner of six races, won a Group Two Champagne Classic and listed Juanmo Stakes and is sure to have plenty of admirers when she is offered for sale at the country’s number one broodmare sale.
Heathcote has always held Excellantes in high regard and he felt more feature sprinting events over the coming weeks would be on his agenda.
“I’ve always said this bloke had the makings of a top horse,” Heathcote said of Excellantes.
“His work this week has been amazing and he is a very serious horse.”
“He excels on dry tracks and I was supremely confident about his chances today.”
“James (McDonald) rode him perfectly and the way he is racing makes him a chance in any race he contests.”
“I will wait and see how he pulls up and go from there,” Heathcote said what asked what the future held for his latest stakes winner.
Excellantes, who was sold through the draft of Lyndhurst Stud Farm as a yearling, is by Falvelon and is his seventh individual stakes winner.
His dam Cantantes is the dam of four winners from five runners (her non winner is city placed this season at two). She was a Brisbane winner before being retired to stud.
Winner: Excellantes
Breeding: Falvelon-Cantantes (Just Awesome)
Race: BRC Chief de Beers Handicap LR (1110m)
Sold for: $105,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale
Vendor: Lyndhurst Stud Farm (As Agent)
Buyer: Paul Willetts
Earnings: $392,550
Owner(s): Mrs V Heathcote, R Vela, T McPherson, G Elliot, R Ciobo, B Harry, N Brownlow, K Mackenzie J Cahill & P Martin
Trainer: Robert Heathcote (Eagle Farm)
PICS – Dan Costello.
