In Excess the ‘new sensation’ takes SE Derby

A promising three-year-old pacer nicknamed “Hutchy” for the late frontman of Aussie rock group INXS has claimed his biggest harness racing win in the opening features of the star-studded Queensland Constellations carnival at Brisbane’s Albion Park tonight (July 13).

Former Kiwi In Excess (Bettors Delight) finished too strongly in the Burwood Stud South East Derby for Queensland trainer Darrel Graham and young gun reinsman Angus Garrard.

In Excess had drawn the prime barrier one, and showed blistering speed from the gate to hold the front in the early burn.

But Garrard admitted he was somewhat surprised to be challenged after 400 metres by race favorite, New Zealand trained Major Hot (Adam Sanderson), who got a nice run through from the second row, and Minos (Robert Morris), who started from the extreme outside.

“It sort caught me off guard a little bit but he was a nice one to follow anyway, so it panned out nice,” rard said.

The 21-year-old was upbeat about In Excess’s prospects in the big one, the Queensland Derby in two weeks (July 27).

“We had to burn out a little bit there tonight and he was on the speed the whole way but he follows the speed good anyway, so I am sure the 2600 will suit him in the Derby.”

Dele Row (Chantal Turpin) finished hard in an eye-catching second, while Major Hot battled on well for third in a MR of 1:54.6 (30.1, 29.5, 27.9, 28.6).

IN EXCESS REPLAY

The win was Garrard’s 109^th victory of the season and the 789^th of his career. His career best in a season was 177 in 2019-20 and he was the youngest driver to land 100 winners as a 17-year-old in that same season.

Hoofnote: “New sensation” was a smash hit in 1988 for INXS and the late Michael Hutchence.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink