Exceeds shows class in Randwick 2YO upset

Two-year-old filly Exceeds has blown away the hype surrounding debutant Eden Roc by scoring a tough victory at Randwick.

The Hawkes Racing-trained Eden Roc, closely related to Group One-placed stablemate Star Turn, jumped the $1.70 favourite but the James Cummings-trained Exceeds ($20) caused a boilover in Saturday’s two-year-old plate over 1000m.

Exceeds’s jockey Brenton Avdulla stalked Eden Roc before peeling out on the home turn.

With Eden Roc racing greenly in the straight, Exceeds’ race experience came to the fore as she beat him by three-quarters of a length.

The judge couldn’t separate the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair Kristensen ($51) Pandemonium ($31) for third.

“There were some stylish colts in that race that we were able to get the better of and it looks like she’s got more in store,” Cummings said.

Exceeds carries Dato Tan Chin Nam’s famous colours and was bought by his racing manager Duncan Ramage for $250,000 as a yearling.

It was the filly’s second start after finishing fourth behind smart youngsters From Within, Invader and Chauffeur on debut at Canterbury on New Year’s Eve.

Cummings was keeping his cards close to his chest about a potential target for Exceeds.

“There’s a race I’ve got my eye on, but she’s got up over 1000 metres there so I’ll have to keep thinking about it,” Cummings said.

He was less cagey about his aspirations for stablemate Tactical Advantage who scored his third-straight metropolitan victory and notched a race-to-race-double for the stable in the Wilkes Quality (1000m) for three-year-olds.

Cummings plans to prime Tactical Advantage for the Group Three Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill on March 11.

Dropping back from 1200m last start, Tactical Advantage ($7) swept past Spending To Win ($3.30) in the straight with $2.50 favourite Guard Of Honour getting home late for third.

“When I thought about running in this race my jockey (Glyn Schofield) was very doubtful,” Cummings said.

“My foreman had to remind him last Saturday when I was on the Gold Coast: ‘leave the training to James, you just ride them’.

“And he rode him very well.”