Vinery Stud’s Exceedance produced a debut winner at Moe on Thursday that started as a short priced favourite and on Saturday at Randwick we will see the return of his best performer to date.
The Gavin Bedggood trained three year-old gelding Axiom didn’t have things easy in the small field of four in the 1200m maiden which ended up being a tactical affair, but he knuckled down to the task when it counted to post a head victory.
An $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Twin Hills Stud draft for his trainer, Axiom is the first foal from stakes-placed Nothing Compares (NZ), a winner up to 2000m by staying sire Jakkalberry (IRE).
Given the female pedigree it won’t be a surprise to see Axiom enjoy racing over a little further as his career unfolds.
Returning at Randwick on Saturday in the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) is top class four year-old Swiftfalcon, who has found the line well in recent indicating a good spring campaign is on the cards.
Trained by Team Hawkes, Swiftfalcon was a Listed winner last spring at 1600m and was then twice Group I placed during the autumn in the Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas.
The talented gelding is rated a $15 chance for the Group I ATC Epsom and has the right profile for a handicap race, while the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) is also no doubt on his radar falling into his ideal distance range.
A winner already of over $740,000, Swiftfalcon is one of four stakes-winners by Exceedance, who covered his biggest ever book of 181 mares last year and remains at the same fee of $33,000 this spring.
