3 minute read

Trainer Patrick Dargan is hoping for at least one winner from the two stable tenants he takes to Hobart on Sunday.

In Brief

• Ella Exceeds looms as top winning chance in Tony Carrick Vase.
• Fighting Styx missed gallops but has come on since trial.
• Dargan more confident about Ella Exceeds' winning chances.

Patrick Dargan saddles up his two-year-old Ella Exceeds in the Tony Carrick Vase (1000m) and she could start favourite on the strength of her game second on debut in Hobart two weeks ago, while his handy filly from last season, Fighting Styx, resumes from a spell in the Kelly Civil Contracting 0-62 Handicap over 1200m.

Fighting Styx only won one race last season, but it was in Hobart where she debuted in the first two-year-old race of the season before winning a Tasbred Bonus maiden at the same venue three starts later.

Dargan said both of his fillies are in good order and should make their presence felt.

"Fighting Styx goes into the race probably a trial short, but she has come on since her trial in Longford, so I'm sure she will be very competitive," Dargan said.

"She has been back in work since early August, but a slight hiccup forced her to miss a couple of gallops.

"I expect her to land just behind the leaders and if it pans out that way, they will know she's about."

Ella Exceeds debuted with a game second to Geegee Jet By after sharing the lead from the outset with the speedy Vokes and she did a great job to finish as close as she did to the winner.

"I was going to tip Ella Exceeds out for a week or so, but she pulled up so well from the debut run I decided to push on for this race.

"She is only small, but she is well put together and does very little wrong, so I would expect her to be very hard to beat on Sunday."

Last season's leading apprentice Codi Jordan stays with Ella Exceeds and she also takes the ride on Fighting Styx on whom she won last season.