Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
When the hot $1.20 favourite Xceptional Arma settled down in fifth and last position in the Indian file affair in the August Moon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night the two-year-old filly’s driver Maddison Brown became concerned at the dawdling pace set by Heartofahlia.
The lead time in the 2130m event was run in a very slow 40.1sec. before an opening 400m section of a meandering 31.7sec.
“I was a bit worried that the slow pace would not help Xceptional Arma, and I could see that Junior (Gary Hall Jnr) was having a bit of trouble with the leader,” Brown said. “It looked like the leader wasn’t going; the plugs were out early, and the filly was a bit green and not really knowing what she was doing out in front.
“So, I took off a touch earlier than I had planned. I just knew that Junior wasn’t going to be able to get his horse to go when I was coming. So, I thought I would be able to get up there (into the breeze) fairly cheaply. And Xceptional Arma did it all under her own steam without me having much to do.”
Brown eased Xceptional Arma off the pegs 1300m from home and the filly simply coasted in the breeze, almost a length and a half behind the pacemaker, before getting to the front with 220m to travel and winning by 2m from Heartofahlia, rating a modest 2.0.8, after final quarters of 29sec. and 28sec.
Xceptional Arma, prepared by Brown’s father Colin, has enjoyed a wonderful first season, with her 13 starts producing seven wins, three placings and $221,597. Her wins included the WA Gold Bullion final in April and the Group 1 Westbred Classic in September.
She is by American Ideal and is the fifth foal out of the former outstanding juvenile Arma Xpress, who was retired after racing 18 times for 12 wins and earning $279,890. Xceptional Arma is a full-sister to American Arma (44 starts for 11 wins, 14 placings and $177,785) and Arma Xfactor (34 starts for 11 wins, four placings and $93,009).