His name was Xcellent, and he had the talent to match the name, but injury and wet tracks robbed him

Xcellent is by the sire Pentire (Be My Guest) by the mare, Excelo (by Centro). He was bred by the GF Gimblett family, auctioned for $45,000 at the yealing sales and was trained by Mike Moroney, who considered the horse the best he ever raced. The gelding was lightly raced due to injury, winning 8 from only 13 starts spread over four seasons, but still was rated an exceptional racehorse based on his elite record in NZ and Australia. It is reasonable to assume that injury robbed the slow maturing gelding of his best years as a racehorse.

After breaking his maiden over 1600m at Te Rapa with a very smart display, Xcellent went on the win the Dunstan Feeds Qualifier (2000m) at Ellerslie with jockey Michael Coleman, proving far too strong. Xcellent possessed the ability to sit at the rear of the field, then turn on the afterburners out wide with a slick turn of foot. He won 6 races from his first 9 career starts, including the 2004 Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Darley Stakes at Ellerslie Racecourse, the Mudgway Stakes in 2005 and Gr.1 Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings.

In November 2005, Xcellent ran a meritorious third in the Melbourne Cup, behind three-time winner Makybe Diva and On a Jeune. It was only his 9th start with an unsuitable preparation when facing the two mile cup, 1200 metres further then he'd ever run. However, over-watering of the Flemington track badly affected his chances. It was still a brave 3rd placing from barrier 17 in the great race, behind one of the greatest Australian staying legends no less, taking out his 3rd Cup. In early 2006, the gelding damaged both front tendons and was out of action for 18 months before returning to the track in the 2007 Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap, and doing little on an unsuitably wet track under a large weight. In the Mudgway he produced possibly his most impressive career run when 2nd last on the turn but displaying a scintillating sprint to comfortably gather in the multiple Group one winner, Miss Potential.

Beginning another campaign in December 2007, Xcellent remained unbeaten in New Zealand in scoring a stunning win first up in the Gr.3 Sir James Fletcher Stakes (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 a close second to Sir Slick in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. In January 2008, Xcellent won the Gr.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 ruptured a suspensory ligament and his retirement was announced the following day.

RACE RECORD - 13:8-0-1

EARNINGS - $1,499,950

New Zealand Derby (2004)

Kelt Capital Stakes (2005)

New Zealand Stakes (2005)

Mudgway Stakes(2005)

New Zealand Horse of the Year in both the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons.