Guy Walter is not renowned for attacking the big races for two-year-olds but says Exceed And Exalt deserves his chance in the Sires’ Produce Stakes on Saturday.
The trainer’s biggest success in a juvenile race came when Excites won the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick five years ago at his third start.
Exceed And Exalt heads into this year’s edition also for just his third start and Walter is delighted with the colt’s preparation.
“Obviously it is a very tough race and he’s going up in class again but he won well first-up at Canterbury and his second start was very good in the Pago Pago Stakes,” Walter said.
“Like a number of them going into the Sires, there’s probably a question mark on whether he’s up to this grade, but I feel he deserves his chance.”
Exceed And Exalt cost $250,000 as a yearling and Walter, who trained his dam Laetitia, believed he would be an early runner but the son of Exceed And Excel took a little longer than anticipated to get the idea of racing.
He made a winning debut at Canterbury in a midweek race only a month ago and then Walter threw him in the deep end in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill two weeks ago where victory would have secured the trainer his first Golden Slipper runner.
It wasn’t to be, with Exceed And Exalt hitting the line strongly late for third to the Bart Cummings-trained winner Salade.
Walter believes another Cummings runner, Sires favourite Do You Think, is the horse to beat on Saturday.
After the scratching of Smart Missile on Thursday, Do You Think took over favouritism at $3.50 just ahead of Golden Slipper third placegetter Elite Falls at $3.80.
Exceed And Exalt is at $18.
“I’m very happy with him, he’s done a couple of bits of work (since the Pago Pago) and he’s in very good order,” Walter said.
Exceed And Exalt will be ridden by apprentice Nathan Berry who is chasing a first Group One win a week after having his first ride in the Golden Slipper on Saramenha.
Walter won two Sydney Cups with the champion Tie The Knot and the trainer’s Cup aspirations this year will be tested in Saturday’s Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) when he starts Sandberg and Cyber Crime.
“Both have been running very well in weaker company, tomorrow is a big class rise but they are in good form and are very fit with light weights and good draws,” he said.
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