Group One-winning jockey James Winks will ride talented sprinter Excellantes in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Robert Heathcote confirmed Winks, who has won Group One races aboard Star Witness and Absolut Glam, will be aboard Excellantes, who worked stylishly over 1000m at Flemington last Saturday at his first serious hitout since arriving in Melbourne last week.
“He worked over five furlongs and ran home his last 400 metres in a tick over 24 seconds which is just what I wanted him to do,” Heathcote said.
“His barrier trial win at Doomben last Tuesday was extremely impressive. I was particularly happy with the way he finished it off.”
Heathcote is mindful of the task confronting Excellantes when he lines up against what is expected to be a high-quality field in Saturday’s Gilgai.
“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a hot race with the likes of Bel Sprinter and Spirit Of Boom among the runners but he’s definitely earned a shot at the race,” Heathcote said.
The Gilgai was selected as a spring goal for Excellantes on the recommendation of jockey James McDonald who won the Chief De Beers Quality (1110m) aboard the gelding during the Brisbane winter carnival.
“After James won on him he told me not to hesitate to take him to Melbourne and he felt his racing pattern would be suited to the straight races at Flemington,” Heathcote said.
“With that in mind we decided he was worth putting on a plane with Buffering and Solzhenitsyn.”
Heathcote is happy with the progress Buffering has made since his courageous first-up win in the Group Two Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
“He knew he’d had a solid run for a couple of days but he’s bounced back well,” he said.
“The day after the race he had an equine masseuse work on his back and he loved that.
“For the next two or three days he’ll just do a bit of light exercise and, all going well, we’ll push on to the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday week.”
