Berry guided the John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes-trained youngster to a dashing victory in the G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill in his seasonal debut and when quizzed about a possible crack at the $14 million TAB Everest, he was enthusiastic.
“If he got the call up and the Hawkes team put him in the race, he definitely will make his presence felt,” he said.
Exceedance winning the G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill
While there were concerns about the heavy going on Saturday, any Berry had were allayed before the start of the race.
“I usually just hack him around, but I gave him a bit of a click up and stretched his legs to get a feel on that ground. He was very comfortable so I was pretty confident before we even jumped,” he said.
“I usually just hack him around, but I gave him a bit of a click up and stretched his legs to get a feel on that ground.” – Tommy Berry
Exceedance drew the inside barrier and settled in in fourth spot near the fence in the small field and once Berry angled him into the clear he let down impressively to breeze on by the raging favourite and last-start G3 Vain S. winner Bivouac (Exceed And Excel).
Exceedance was given two runs last season and won first time out at Wyong before finishing runner-up at Rosehill.
Jockey Tommy Berry
“It’s always scary when they go out for a break because you just want the same horse to come back,” Berry said. “The Hawkes’ have done it year after year, especially with their 3-year-olds.
“They give them plenty of time and bring them back in great order. He’s a pleasure to have anything to do with.”
Michael Hawkes admitted the stable was reluctant to run Exceedance on the heavily rain-affected ground on Saturday, but felt they had no other option than to roll the dice.
“It was all about the track and to be fair he was always in the wrong spot from barrier one with the way the race panned out,” Hawkes said.
“It was all about the track and to be fair he was always in the wrong spot from barrier one with the way the race panned out.” – Michael Hawkes.
“These races can get very tricky with the tempo and they didn’t go hard. Tommy knew he was on the best horse and I told him to ride him like that.
“We just let the horse do the talking and he had two good runs last campaign and this was a race we always set for him.
“Dad and I discussed it and we decided he really had to run. If we didn’t and there’s another wet track in a couple of weeks you’re in the same boat.
“Usually, you don’t like to start horses off on a heavy track, but this is a brilliant colt. When he came out, he just gobbled them up and it was all too easy. He’s just far superior.”
Exceedance is a son of the stakes winner Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park) and was bought by Vinery Stud for $180,000 out of Newgate's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft in 2018.
Trainer Michael Hawkes
The front-running filly Anaheed (Fastnet Rock) boxed on for third with her stablemate Catch Me (I Am Invincible) a distant fourth.
The maiden Royal Popcorn (Bullet Train {GB}) predictably tailed the field home for the biggest pay cheque by far of his six run career. “It was $5000 to run last,” trainer Mike Berry said.
Pleasant surprise
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are past masters at raiding major Australian features and with Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) they have another potential Group 1 contender.
The 3-year-old carried the OTI colours to a surprise victory in Saturday’s G3 Ming Dynasty Quality with connections unsure of his ability on wet ground over a sprint trip.
“I think he might be a special horse,” Terry Henderson said. “He’s impressed all the way through and Murray and Andrew have a big opinion of him.
“I wouldn’t have thought this would have been his day though – not on a wet track over 1400 metres so to see that is very exciting. We’ve set him for the Spring Champion S.”
