Feet issues now behind Excommunicado

Excommunicado will look to make it two straight when she lines up at Caulfield.

EXCOMMUNICADO winning the Big Screen Company Plate in Mornington, Australia.
EXCOMMUNICADO winning the Big Screen Company Plate in Mornington, Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman had their work cut-out getting Excommunicado to the racetrack. 

After showing promise in trials as a two-year-old, Excommunicado finally made it to the track to score a debut maiden win at Mornington in late December. 

Now the daughter of I Am Invincible makes her city debut on Saturday when she heads to The McCafe Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield

Sam Freedman explained Excommunicado had hind feet issues that delayed her getting to the racetrack. 

"The farriers have done a tremendous job with her, along with the vets," Freedman said. 

"So, it hasn't been straight-forward getting her to the races, but now that she's fit, and sound, and well, she's probably appreciated a bit of maturity also." 

Excommunicado was sent out a well-backed $1.40 favourite, firming in from $1.60, before scoring by a length at Mornington at her first start. 

Freedman said the filly may not have been visually impressive but had taken a deal of improvement from the outing. 

"It may not have been as impressive as you would have hoped, but Luke (Currie) held on to her and then she was strong late," Freedman said. 

"She's had a gap between runs and a trial last week which was solid. 

"I think she is around the mark, but this will be a solid test for her." 

Part-owned by breeder Jonathan Munz, the eventual hope is Excommunicado will find her way to Stakes level at some stage during the campaign. 

"If she can win on Saturday, or run really well, there's some nice filly's races coming up and this is a small stepping stone on that path," Freedman said. 

"She won trials as a two-year-old pretty impressively, so she's always had good talent." 


Racing and Sports



Caulfield

Saturday, 03rd February 2024

1
12:15
(local)

The McCaf? Handicap

Age: 3yo Sex: F WT: 55.0kg Type: BM70
AUD $150,000
1200m TURF GOOD
1
12:15
(local)
AUD $150,000
1200m GOOD

The McCaf? Handicap

Age: 3yo Sex: F WT: 55.0kg Type: BM70
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 7. DIAMOND DECORATOR (AUS) 3yo F
TORONADO (IRE) - TUSKAR BROOK (AUS)
BEAU MERTENS
PAT CAREY & HARRIS WALKER
$17
56kg
Mrs C A Carey, Patricia Street (J P Argentino), Diamond Collector (R Caldow), D L S Racing (S Price), M J Donnelly, G Gordon, R Gordon, T Gordon, R Horwood, Z Khariwala, A Lenarcic, R Masters, T Migliore, C Sullivan, Mrs P Sullivan, J Sullivan, B Sullivan, D Sutherland, S Sutherland & NAPA
2nd 1. LOST (AUS) 3yo F
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - ABDUCTION (AUS)
MARK ZAHRA
JAMES CUMMINGS
$3.3
58kg
Godolphin
3rd 3. BARBY'S DOLL (AUS) 3yo F
FIGHTING SUN (AUS) - BARBARETTA (AUS)
DAMIAN LANE
JEROME HUNTER
$3.9
57kg
G A Gathercole
4th 5. LADY OF POISE (AUS) 3yo F
TRAPEZE ARTIST (AUS) - BLUEBERRY HILL (AUS)
JORDAN CHILDS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$6.5
56.5kg

Sales Information

5th 6. SINGLE 'N' READY (AUS) 3yo F
MORE THAN READY (USA) - FLYING SINGLE (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
LLOYD KENNEWELL & LUCY YEOMANS
$10
56.5kg

Sales Information

6th 2. DON'TDOUBTLAYLA (AUS) 3yo F
NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - SMILES FOR LAYLA (NZ)
JOHN ALLEN
CIARON MAHER
$11
57.5kg

Sales Information

7th 4. EXCOMMUNICADO (AUS) 3yo F
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - WOOING (IRE)
LUKE CURRIE
A & S FREEDMAN
$4.5
56.5kg