Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Promising filly Xceptional Arma was irritable and in a sullen mood before the final event, the Bridge Bar Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night. Her antics delayed the start by several minutes before she settled down and set the pace on her way to scoring a 10-metre victory.
There were only five runners in the 1730m event for two-year-old fillies. But the start was aborted after Xceptional Arma refused to score up, leaving the stewards with the decision to abandon the score-up because they were not satisfied that Xceptional Arma had not fully cleared the track half-way down the back straight.
Earlier, veteran trainer-reinsman Colin Brown was given permission to remove the lugging pole after Xceptional Arma was in a cantankerous mood after completing her preliminary. However, the filly was extremely fractious in the score-up, giving Brown a torrid time as he fought to control her.
Finally, the race got under way, and punters who had supported Xceptional Arma, the $1.20 favourite, breathed a sigh of relief when Brown got her away smartly from the No. 1 barrier to burst straight to the front.
It was then a precession as Xceptional Arma bowled along in front and coasted to an easy victory over $9.50 chance Rock Rosie Rock, who ran from last at the bell.
Xceptional Arma has raced three times for a win and two seconds for stakes of $29,633. She is by American Ideal and is the fifth foal out of Arma Xpress, who had 18 starts for 12 wins, one placing and stakes of $279,890.
Xceptional Arma is a full-sister to American Arma (32 starts for ten wins, 11 placings and $148,236) and Arma Xfactor (24 starts for five wins, four placings and $47,255. She is also a half-sister to Arma Veyron (144 starts for 11 wins, 30 placings and $74,800).
Long-term plans for Xceptional Arma include the $225,000 Westbred Classic for two-year-old fillies on September 15.