Xcellent
Encyclopedia
Xcellent is a thoroughbred
racehorse who was trained by Michael-Patrick Moroney.
He won 6 races from his first 9 career starts, including four Group One
s - The New Zealand Derby
and New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie Racecourse
, and the Mudgway Stakes and Kelt Capital Stakes
at Hastings. On 1 November 2005, he ran third in the Melbourne Cup
, behind three-time winner Makybe Diva
.
In early 2006, Xcellent broke down and was out of action for 18 months before returning to the track in the 2007 Stradbroke Handicap
and doing little on an unsuitably wet track under a large weight.
Beginning another campaign in December 2007, he remained unbeaten in New Zealand in scoring a stunning win first up in the Group 3 Sir James Fletcher Stakes over 1600m at Ellerslie against a strong field including the likes of Sir Slick and fellow Derby winner Wahid
. He suffered his only defeat in New Zealand when finishing second to Sir Slick in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. In January 2008, Xcellent won the Group 3 Trentham Stakes. However, he pulled up sore after that race, and had to be led back riderless to the birdcage. It was discovered he had damaged a tendon, and his retirement was announced the following day.
In the 2005-06 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
: 1 August 2005 – 31 July 2006, Xcellent was ranked 18th by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. He was the New Zealand Horse of the Year in both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse who was trained by Michael-Patrick Moroney.
He won 6 races from his first 9 career starts, including four Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
s - The New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
and New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
, and the Mudgway Stakes and Kelt Capital Stakes
Kelt Capital Stakes
The Kit Ormond Memorial Spring Classic is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's richest weight-for-age horse race...
at Hastings. On 1 November 2005, he ran third in the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, behind three-time winner Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
.
In early 2006, Xcellent broke down and was out of action for 18 months before returning to the track in the 2007 Stradbroke Handicap
Stradbroke Handicap
The Stradbroke Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run on the first Saturday in June, over a distance of 1,400 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane...
and doing little on an unsuitably wet track under a large weight.
Beginning another campaign in December 2007, he remained unbeaten in New Zealand in scoring a stunning win first up in the Group 3 Sir James Fletcher Stakes over 1600m at Ellerslie against a strong field including the likes of Sir Slick and fellow Derby winner Wahid
Wahid (horse)
Wahid is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the New Zealand Derby in 2006.The son of Almutawakel grabbed everyone's attention with his stunning debut win at Trentham , and was rarely out of the limelight for the remainder of his two year-old season...
. He suffered his only defeat in New Zealand when finishing second to Sir Slick in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. In January 2008, Xcellent won the Group 3 Trentham Stakes. However, he pulled up sore after that race, and had to be led back riderless to the birdcage. It was discovered he had damaged a tendon, and his retirement was announced the following day.
In the 2005-06 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities , an organization established in 2003 with headquarters in Paris, France made up of members from around the world....
: 1 August 2005 – 31 July 2006, Xcellent was ranked 18th by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. He was the New Zealand Horse of the Year in both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.