Another good return
RACING: Dalby trainer Grant Arnold added to his Exceedingly Good strike rate when his latest stable shining light continued on his winning way at Clifford Park on Saturday.
Exceedingly Kool ($6.50) got the bulk of punters off to a shaky meeting start after out-gunning his rivals in the Furney’s Class 2 Handicap (1050m).
After leading the field for home for jockey Todd Banks, the five-year-old defied all attempts to run him down in the home straight to score by a length from Wine Barrel ($5.50).
Race favourite Timetus ($3.20) finished a short head back third.
Saturday’s win was the third in a row for Exceedingly Kool who had scored in his two previous outings at Warwick and Dalby.
His career tally stands at five wins and four placings from 16 starts as he continues Arnold’s winning trot with the stock of sire Exceedingly Good.
Arnold has had previous Clifford Park success with Exceedingly Fine and Exceedingly Kool’s sister Exceedingly Bay.
“We’ve also got a half brother to this bloke at home — I love them,” Arnold said as he celebrated with Exceedingly Kool’s owners who include his sister Desley.
“I bought this horse as a yearling for $1000.
“But after we broke him in we had him in and out of work a few times.
“Giving them a bit of time seems to work well for the breed and he’s really starting to benefit now from a bit of patience.”
Punters were again on the receiving end one race later when Oakey seven-year-old Man Overboard ($15) handed bookies a welcome result in the M & K Construction Group Ratings Band 0-58 Handicap.
With the aid of a good Wayne O’Connell ride Man Overboard notched his second win from his three latest outings with a half-length victory over Try ‘N’ Catch Me ($4).
Favourite Casse Bleu ($2.70) was a half-neck away third.
Short-price favourite Hard Stride ($2) had to call on all his first-up fitness to tough out a narrow win in the Shannon Sign Company Open Handicap (1050m).
Hard Stride was pressured in the lead throughout by runner-up Gully Command ($4.20) at his first outing since October but fought hard in the home straight for apprentice Emma Ljung to score by a half length in track record time.
His run of 1:01.51 bettered Remlampago’s previous mark of 1:01.85 set in 2015.
The seven-year-old’s win was the second on the card for Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears who earlier teamed with jockey Skye Bogenhuber to take out the Audi Centre Toowoomba Class 1 Plate (1625m) with lightly raced Quiero ($1.85 fav).