Easy-to-back Excesso leads home 1, 2 for O'Brien Despite proving friendless in the market, Excesso Velocidad lead home a 1, 2 for Joseph O'Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Second in a barrier trial over the course and distance in July, the Exceed And Excel bay drifted from 7/2 out to a starting price of 13/2. Soon in a share of the lead under Dylan Browne McMonagle, she gained an outright advantage approaching halfway. Ridden and pressed a furlong and a half from home, she battled on gamely to prevail by a neck in the colours of Rectory Road Holdings Limited. There was just a neck between the second and third as well, with Anann (33/1), who was prominent throughout, and Vikki Wall (8/1) occupying those position. The latter came in for plenty of market support on debut, from early shows of 33/1, and she finished out her race well under Conor Maxwell. "I was fairly confident coming into the race, I knew she would stay well," the winning rider revealed. "She can tend to do a little bit too much, but we had a red hood on her going down to the start. "We got it handy enough upsides, I thought we weren't going overly mad. She travelled really good, she's very professional. "When I let her down, she quickened good and she stayed at it well. She's very tough, a couple of challengers on the side of her and she battled them off well and hit the line good. "A good start." STEWARDS REPORT D.W. O'Connor, rider of The Stray Sod trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right up the straight. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
