UNTAPPED Excites filly Avadale more than lived up to the hype surrounding herself with a dazzling 4.5-lens win at Gosford this afternoon in what appeared an effortless debut.
The Clarry Conners trained 3yo was held back from her scheduled Canterbury appearance yesterday in preference to today’s assignment which had looked an usually strong race on paper with a number of highly touted three-year-olds engaged as well as seasoned older mares.
It mattered not given Avadale’s supreme display of sustained speed which saw her turn in one of the more dominant maiden wins seen on the provincial circuit in some time.
“That was awesome,” says Vinery Stud’s Adam White.
“The mail had been floating around that she was something above average, I guess her 4-lens trial win at Warwick Farm was indicative but you like to see them do it on raceday first before getting too carried away. I think the regard in which she is held is totally justified now.”
Avadale was bred and retained by Peter and Wendy Moran who bred and raced Excites during his outstanding carer which was headlined by a win in the Group 1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at only his third start.
Importantly, the colt returned as a 3yo to run a luckless second in the Group 1 VATC Caulfield Guineas (1600m), a noted sire making race.
“Peter knows Excites as well as we do, he’s always been one to suggest that the breed will only get better at three,” White said.
“He has a handful of Excites’ that he put away that are starting to get going now and if they as are good as Avadale appears to be, then he is going to have a lot more winners by the stallion this season.”
“It is interesting to note that Avadale is from a Rory’s Jester mare. Another good first crop filly, Amber’s Crown has won four of her six races and over $220,000 in Queensland also has Rory’s Jester as the sire of her second dam. So that cross may prove to be significant with more time.”
Excites threw five 2YO winners from only 13 starters in 2010/11 and has made a flying start with his 3YO’s with several winners already.
It is widely anticipated that another one of his debut crop, Flag Officer who won his first two starts while 2, will add his first win as a 3YO when he leads the field out in the opening event at Belmont on Saturday.
