Melbourne, July 8 – It’s been a long time between drinks for talented staying mare Exceptionally, who found her best form to post a three and a half length win in the $102,000 VRC Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.

Winner of the Listed VRC St Leger Stakes in 2010, Exceptionally (pictured Racepix Vic) has been winless since then, although a string of consistent efforts have given her the handy record of four wins and six placings from 29 starts with prizemoney of $349,357.

Exceptionally is prepared at Stawell in Victoria’s west by father-daughter team Terry and Karina O’Sullivan, who are looking to the future with the smart stayer.

Her backers had reason to worry when the mare raced wide for most of the 2600 metre journey before hitting the front with 400 metres to travel, her trainer O’Sullivan concerned jockey Dean Yendall had gone too early.

“You always panic a bit at Flemington when they hit the front that far out, don’t you,” Terry O’Sullivan said.

“I thought, ‘geez I don’t know if he has pressed the button a bit early’.”

O’Sullivan said the slow track was a key factor in Exceptionally’s performance.

“I’m sure she appreciates the softer ground,” O’Sullivan said.

“She probably ran the race of her life when she ran second to Zipping on the heavy track in the Sandown Classic.

“Hopefully, we might get a wet spring.”

Bred by Shadwell, Exceptionally is by the Red Ransom stallion Ekraar (USA) and was foaled in New Zealand before being sent back to Australia to Yarraman Park and carries their well known J brand.

She was offered by Yarraman Park at the 2007 MM National Weanling Sale where she was astutely purchased by Gary Mudgway and Kylie Wood’s Grange Thoroughbreds for $4,500 and then successfully pinhooked into the Adelaide Magic Millions where she fetched $62,500.
 
Exceptionally is one of three winners from the Zabeel mare Sahayb, a grand-daughter of influential matron Valour, whose many notable descendants include champion juvenile Burst, Group I winner Bush Padre and more recent stakes-winners such as Tenant’s Tiara and Superfly.