After a midweek debut win at Sandown, Express Class (Exceedance) was thrown into Stakes company in the Gr.3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday, 16 August – just his second race start – where he became one to watch. 

Rewind two weeks and it was that Sandown metro win that set the tone for what’s to come for the three-year-old son of Exceedance. On debut, he comfortably beat Ferivia, who returned on the same Caulfield program to frank the form with victory in the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes (1100m). 

Prepared at Cranbourne by Gerard Moloney, Express Class carried the tag of outsider into the Vain Stakes, the least-favoured runner in the TAB market. It was a steep rise from midweek maiden company to Group 3 level against seasoned campaigners, but the three-year-old proved he was up for the fight – turning his underdog status into a storyline worth following. 

Ahead of Saturday’s contest, jockey Patrick Moloney – son of trainer Gerard Moloney who trains Express Class said: “The opposition are on their second and third preparations, and he’s on his first, so taking that into account, he’s got to make a big step up.”  

“He was impressive when he won and he’s a horse that is only going to improve as time goes on. 

“He’s going to be better product come the autumn and what he’s doing now is a bonus, but he hasn’t put a foot wrong since his Wednesday run at Sandown.” 

Express Class showed his potential in the final furlong of the 1100m dash, peeling off the back of the seven-horse field and recording the fastest closing section of the race in 11.83 seconds, with winner Jimmy Recard and second-placed horse Tycoon Star down the rail. 

 Heading into the race with the least raceday experience, the third foal of Snitzel mare Miss Belief rose to the occasion. A Bucklee Farm purchase by Moloney Racing at the Inglis Premier Sale, he has already returned $71,000 in prizemoney from just two starts. 

Exceedance has already produced eight Stakes horses from just two crops of racing age, striking at 15.3% Stakes horses-to-winners. With Express Class shaping for a strong spring and an even bigger autumn, and a book of 181 foals arriving this season, the son of Exceed And Excel has both proven racetrack performers and strength in numbers on his side.