Two sons of Exceed and Excel, making their career debuts, fought out the finish of the DrinkWise Maiden Plate (1100m) for two-year-olds at Canterbury on Friday.
James McDonald on the Godolphin colt Mellifluent was backed as if unbeatable but needed the length of the straight to collar the front runner Excelindeed.
The Hellbent first starter Hell Of a Fox was back in third.
“Once he found the fence, it gave the horse a bit of confidence, and once the other horse dropped off, he was able to weave through,” assistant trainer Darren Beadman said.
“He still looked a little at sea. Most of our horses are never really let off the bit until they come to the races. Once James got at him and asked for an effort, he responded well.
“He is a big, gangly horse who will grow into himself, and it’s encouraging that he made a winning debut.”
James McDonald said the son of Exceed And Excel will derive great benefit from the run.
“I always thought I was going to win but felt he would win a bit easier than what he did,” McDonald said.
“He is still very new but did it well when he found the fence. He will improve a lot from the outing.
“He is a beautiful colt who does everything so easily.”
A half-brother to the Listed MRC Gothic Stakes winner Sandpaper, Mellifluent is the second winner from as many to race for the unraced Lonhro mare Smooth, a sister to the 5-time Group 1 winner Pierro and a half to Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes winner Ambience.
Mellifluent is a brother-in-blood to Phoenix Thoroughbreds' promising Power Ballad, a last-start winner at Flemington.
Smooth has a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath (IRE) and was covered by Anamoe in September after missing in 2022.
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