15th First Crop Winner for Rubick
A strong juvenile race at Sandown on Wednesday was won in brilliant fashion by exciting colt Excess Funds (2c Rubick x Save a Penny, by Exceed and Excel), who stormed clear of stakes-winning filly Mockery (2f Verrazano x Madoni, by Lonhro) to win with authority.
Trained by Levi Kavanagh, Excess Funds was fourth to subsequent Group I winner Microphone at his only previous start back in February in the Listed VRC Talindert Stakes.
The handsome chestnut hung badly on that occasion and was immediately sent to the paddock, but returned in good order and was sent to the post as favourite for the 1000 metre scamper despite taking on a classy filly in Mockery, who was a Listed winner back in March.
He settled off the pace for Luke Nolen and steamed to the line over the final furlong to surge clear and win by more than two lengths over Mockery.
“There was only six horses in the race, but it looks like a very good form race,” said Levi Kavanagh.
“He was showing signs of immaturity last time, but he’s come back a much more strengthened horse.
“We’ll see how he pulls up, but going to Adelaide for the Lightning Stakes is a possibility.”
Run over 1000 metres in late July, the Lightning Stakes has been won in recent years by subsequent Group I winners such as Nature Strip and Viddora.
Excess Funds was an $85,000 Inglis Classic purchase for his trainer from the Moobi Farm draft and is the first winner for Save a Penny, a metropolitan winning Exceed and Excel mare from the family of Champion US Sprinter Groovy.
Excess Funds is the 15th first crop winner for Encosta de Lago’s brilliant son Rubick, who stands this spring at a fee of $38,500.