Eximius excels in Sunshine Coast Guineas

Victorian visitor Eximius has ploughed through Heavy 9 conditions for a determined victory in the LR Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m).

Eximius (3g Exceed And Excel – Allegra by Dehere) settled well back from an outside gate before following Lucky Hussler into the straight.  He collared the favourite and dug deep in the wet ground to win by three-quarters of a length.

The Mick Price trained gelding picked up his first black-type victory in the LR VRC Hilton Hotels Stakes at Flemington last November and was runner-up in the LR Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm on June 8.

“He was better off drawing wide because the going was far better away from the fence late in the day,”  jockey Larry Cassidy said on Saturday.  “It was a really gutsy win.  He wasn’t going to give in at any stage.”

Bred by Ian Smith of Edinburgh Park, Eximius initially sold as a foal for $60,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions National Sale.  Supreme Thoroughbreds pin-hooked him and received $100,000 at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

Eximius is by Exceed And Excel out of a half-sister to Listed winner Cat D’Antibes.  The Darley shuttler currently heads the Australian sires’ table with a month of the season remaining.

Exceed And Excel will stand the forthcoming season at Darley’s Hunter Valley-based Kelvinside Stud at a fee of $88,000 (inc gst).