Smart sprinter Excellantes put the spotlight on his half-sister Funtantes with a resounding victory in the LR Chief de Beers Hcp (1110m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Excellantes (4g Falvelon – Cantantes by Just Awesome) boosted his record to 7 wins and 7 placing in 19 starts for earnings over $393,000. He was a $105,000 buy from the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale. “I have said all along that this guy has had Group ability,” trainer Rob Heathcote said. “He is a very, very good horse but he just needs to be on top of the ground to show his best. When he gets those conditions, he will give any race a shake.
“We bred Excellantes when we sent our mare to Falvelon at Glenlogan Park a few years ago. She is safely back in foal to him again this year. Falvelon is a super stallion and he just keeps getting the job done.
“He won the Doomben 10,000 twice so it’s fitting he sired a new stakes winner on the same day. Our other Falvelon runner Gundy Son really rocketed to the line to finish an eye-catching fourth behind Excellantes”
Funtantes (Easy Rocking) has been catalogued as Lot 261 at the Magic Millions this Tuesday. She won a G2 Champagne Classic and LR Juanmo Stakes and is sure to have plenty of admirers on Tuesday.
Falvelon (Alannon) has sired 230 individual winners at a 62% strike-rate. He stood for an $11,000 fee at Glenlogan Park last year.
Heathcote has always held Excellantes in high regard. “This bloke has the makings of a very serious horse,” he said. “His work had been amazing and I was supremely confident today.”