Comparisons are already being made between English import Excess Knowledge and Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, not least of all by the pair’s trainer Gai Waterhouse.
Sourced from England as an ideal candidate to develop into a future Cups horse, Excess Knowledge shares the same sire as Fiorente in Monsun.
Waterhouse can see similarities between the four-year-old and the horse who delivered her maiden Melbourne Cup success and is excited by the unlimited potential of her latest recruit.
“He’s very similar to the other Monsun I trained, Fiorente,” Waterhouse said.
“He is a very, very exciting horse and as handsome as they come. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Excess Knowledge will have his next start at a low-key winter race meeting in Sydney when he lines up in Saturday’s Freshmark Hcp (2000m) at Rosehill.
A three-time stakes placegetter from six starts in England, the horse made his local debut with a fighting second to Eigelstein over 1400m at Randwick last month.
It was an effort that earned admiration from his trainer who is looking forward to seeing how he performs over a more suitable distance.
“I thought his first run was outstanding,” Waterhouse said.
“He never would have been up on the speed and under pressure like that.”
While Excess Knowledge was bought with the 2015 Melbourne Cup in mind, Waterhouse hasn’t completely ruled out a bid this year.
She already has Sydney Cup winner The Offer being aimed at the first Tuesday in November and when asked of her plans for Excess Knowledge, hinted that he too could be earn a shot this year.
“Hopefully the Melbourne Cup. I don’t know if it will be this year or next,” she said.
“I will know more in the next couple of months.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Waterhouse will have a strong hand in the Freshworld Plate (1500m) for two-year-olds at Rosehill with two of the six runners.
Exalted Warrior finished runner-up in both starts over the summer before resuming with a fourth to Sniper Fire who will again be among his rivals on Saturday.
Filly Mumbai Rock made her debut for Waterhouse in a strong form race at Randwick won by subsequent JJ Atkins victor Almalad.
She wasn’t disgraced against her stablemate, finishing sixth, before breaking through for a maiden victory at Kembla Grange last start.
“She’s backing up after her win at Kembla. She’s a lovely filly and the 1500 will suit,” Waterhouse said.