Excelida secures Group Two triumph as Lindsay Park enjoys standout weekend

Presenting as a $10 chance in an extremely competitive field, the Lindsay Park runner found herself up in class in the second start of this preparation, after recording a brave fifth at Caulfield a fortnight earlier.

With Michael Dee in the saddle, the six-year-old mare began strongly to settle just off the pace behind early leader She’s All Class.

Eventually settling in fifth position Dee would bide his time through the middle portion of the race, managing Excelida’s speed to perfection as the field approached the home straight.

Now needing to find a gap, the decision was made to peel to the outside, as She’s All Class and Argentia began their dash to the finish.

This would prove to be an inspired move by Dee, as Excelida turned on the afterburners in the final 200, moving up to the leaders and eventually passing them in the final 50m to secure the Group Two triumph.

Speaking to racing.com post-race, Lindsay Park head trainer Ben Hayes said the victory was a culmination of months of hard work.

“It is just a great result, because out of all the mares this one has been placed nine times in Stakes races, and was yet to win one,” Hayes said.

“So for her to win for Cambridge Stud and all her connections it is just a big thrill, they were patient by keeping her in training and it was great to get that result for them.

“The whole stable is absolutely thrilled.”

Hayes was also full of praise for his jockey, who finally broke through and secured his first win on board Excelida.

“The barrier gave him (Michael Dee) options, she jumped well, the favourite missed it, and it really opened up,” he said.

“Ten out of 10 ride, it just worked out beautifully, she had a beautiful cut into the race and he rode her perfectly.

“Michael really deserves this because he hasn’t actually won on her, but placed on her multiple times, so for him to get a Group Two is a massive result.”

As for whether the next time we see Excelida will be in the Group One Empire Rose, Hayes didn’t rule it out as a possibility.

“There’s lots of options, I’ll have to see how she pulls up, but she’s in really good form and getting back on a dry track was good,” he said.

“It’s definitely something we will look at with Brendan and Henry and we will come up with a plan.”

It was double delight for the Hayes brothers at Moonee Valley on Friday night, with runners Everglade and Elteecee recording victories.

Making her debut in the $1M Inglis Pink Bonus Series Plate maiden Everglade produced a powerful performance, leading for almost the entire 1200m to come away with an eye-catching victory.

Presenting as an $11 chance she jumped perfectly to take the lead in the early stages to be in perfect shape come the home straight.

This is where the three-year-old filly came into her own, burning off the field to win by 4.25 lengths.

“We are very excited, she is a little bit quirky which we saw behind the barriers, but part of that comes with her ability,” JD Hayes told racing.com post-race.

“She showed a great turn of foot at the top of the straight and put it to bed which was pleasing.”

While Elteecee prevailed in the final race of the night, producing a powerful performance in the 1200m Seppelt Wines Handicap.

A $3.60 favourite in an evenly-matched field, the four-year-old gelding jumped well to take an early lead.

And similarly to his stablemate Everglade in race three, he would show an eye-catching turn of foot at the top of the straight to power to a 3.75-length victory.