3 minute read

Victorian stayer Excelleration landed some good bets with his win in the $300,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup (2400m) on Wednesday.

Backed in from $4.20 to start the clear favourite at $2.70, Excelleration settled in the second half of the field but quickly rounded up the leaders on the home turn to score running away by 1.5 lengths from Alhambra Lad ($6) with Grand Pierro ($5) a half head away in third.

Excelleration is a lightly raced 7YO who was having just his 18th race start in the Cup; he has now won six times with seven placings.

The first prize of $180,000 took his earnings to $425,000.

For rider Harry Coffey, it was his second win in the Cup after tasting victory two years ago on Aurora's Symphony.

"Yeah, very similar to Aurora's, down on the minimum having a good run and too good late; they profiled very similar," Coffey said.

"He pulled throughout; he was very strong, but it was his race a long way from home, and once I looped the field, his low weight kicked in and also did his class. He was too late while having a look around."

It's been a good week for Coffey, who celebrated a Group One victory at the weekend aboard Queman in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

"Not bad to back it up with a Launceston Cup;

"I love coming down here, and I love winning features down in Tassie, and it's awesome to get another one."

Trainer Richard Cully wasn't at the track; he was home in Ballarat.

"Richie is a great horseman, does a tremendous job, he's a very well-liked, well-known fellow in the industry," Coffey said.