The Excelsior – Grade III  
AQU   Race #2   1 1/4m   InDirt   Graded Stake
Purse $200.000  For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 War On War, trained by Scarletandgreystables
Bought for $136.000 at auction this five year old has a bit to prove but has some decent form that puts him in with a good
chance. Placed at Graded level he has been super consistent recently hitting the money in his last ten starts. His last
run in January was a good effort in a competitive overnight field where he ran out an easy two length winner over this trip. This one is guaranteed to stay the trip, has a nice draw and always gives his best.

2 Phelps, trained by Mb Stables
Winner of 11 of his 21 starts this is a prolific winner with a touch of class. One of the few sons of the great Whats Up to
have ever done anything on the track he has two grade three wins and a career best third in the Grade one Pacific Classic on his record. After two below par efforts in the JC Gold Cup and the BC Dirt Mile he was spelled and took a 4 month break before hitting the track again in February where he took a SA Open Allowance by a half length. That run wouldve got him spot on for this challenge and i would expect a favourites run from him.

3 Announcement, trained by Mb Stables
This one hasnt shown some of the usual stable form yet but he is a very able sort that has placed in graded class and is in tip top form. A winner at GP on seasonal reappearence i cant see him beating his stable companion but you have to put him in the mix
with good track efforts and some useful works.

4 Chonburi, trained by Emerald Racing Inc
The SUN Derby winner as a three year old he raced in all three TC races never quite living up to that effort. He lost his way a little
after that but ran some good races at the top level. Whether he can live up to that early promise remains to be seen and  his somewhat inconsistent form and just average works suggest he may be a tick off the best of these.

5 Taylors Eagle, trained by Harrell Racing
The least exposed of the field he could be the bargain of the year if he wins this having been bought for just one dollar in 2014. Given plenty of time between efforts she has run twice this year winning her last start and stranger things have happened at HRP so i wont be writing this one off.

SUMMARY
This looks like Phelps race for the taking but War On War and Announcement will test him.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES