Written by Paul Vettise
New Zealand-bred mare True Excelsior (NZ) (Exceed And Excel) is coming home in pursuit of what would be a victory befitting of her pedigree.
She is already a multiple stakes placegetter and her connections view the G1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph at Trentham on January 19 as the best path to crowning her achievements.
Success during the Wellington carnival would take the well-bred True Excelsior to another level, as far as her future broodmare career goes.
“It’s a nice option for her and she is going really well this prep,” said Troy Corstens, who prepares the mare at Flemington with his father Leon.
“She was fourth in the big Group 1 in South Australia and she’s had a few stakes placings.” – Troy Corstens.
“She was fourth in the big Group 1 in South Australia and she’s had a few stakes placings. She’s got a beautiful pedigree and it would be nice to get a Group 1 with her.”
Troy Corstens celebrating with connections of True Excelsior after a victory at Moonee Valley
True Excelsior finished in behind the major players in the G1 Sangster S., won by Shoals (Fastnet Rock) at Morphettville in the autumn after running third in the Listed Redelva in her lead-up outing.
She has previously placed in the G3 Scarborough S. and in the Typhoon Tracy S., both at Moonee Valley.
True Excelsior has been out three times during her current campaign and was third at Flemington at her most recent appearance.
“With one more run under her belt she should be spot on.” - Troy Corstens.
“With one more run under her belt she should be spot on,” Corstens said.
“She’ll run in the Standish here and as long as she goes well she will definitely go over to New Zealand.”
The G3 Standish H. will be run over 1200 metres on her home track on New Year’s Day.
Raced by Rosemont Stud’s Anthony Mithen, True Excelsior has been the regular ride of Stephen Baster and he is likely to be offered the mount at Trentham.
“I haven’t discussed it with Anthony, but I’d say he will go over to ride her,” Corstens said.
Karaka purchase
Mithen, who first proposed the New Zealand venture, purchased True Excelsior at Karaka for NZ$450,000 out of the draft of Cambridge Stud.
She is a daughter of the unraced Zabeel (NZ) mare Special Diamond (NZ), who is a sister to the Group 1 winner and producer Don Eduardo (NZ) and a three-quarter sister to the former Australian Horse of the Year Octagonal (NZ) and to Tristalove (NZ).
True Excelsior as a yearling
The latter was a two-time winner at the top level and left the G1 Spring Champion S. winner Viking Ruler (Danehill {USA}).
It is also a family with hot current form and produced a pair of black type winners last Saturday in G3 Waikato Cup winner Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE}) and the G3 Eulogy S. winner Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel).
Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}), who broke the Awapuni 1200 metres track record at the weekend, is another to feature in the pedigree and she is on target to meet True Excelsior in the Telegraph.
