Amexed (NZ) Continues Resurgence with Caloundra Cup Upset

Karaka graduate Amexed (NZ) has enjoyed a second wind in his racing career in recent weeks, and he hit another high with an upset win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Cellar Maintenance Australia Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast.

Amexed had been a high-class three-year-old in 2013-14, winning the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) and finishing a close fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m). But then he endured a win drought that lasted two years and 13 races, a streak he finally broke with a determined win at Ipswich two weeks ago. On Saturday he proved that he was right back at the peak of his powers with an outstanding black-type win.

Ridden by Robbie Fraad, Amexed defied his 24-to-one odds with a convincing display to beat Jumbo Prince (Outback Prince) by a length and a quarter. All Clear (Authorized) was another three-quarters of a length away in third.

The win completed a stakes double in Australia on Saturday for Rich Hill Stud stallion Pentire, also the sire of Tucanchoo (NZ) who won the Listed ATC Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

Amexed was bred by Tony Rider, who races this season’s Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Adventador (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous).

Amexed is out of the Danasinga mare Danex (NZ), an accomplished racehorse who finished third in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). She is a half-sister to Annalee (NZ) (Kingdom Bay), the dam of Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Ryan Mark (NZ) (Thorn Park).

Danex is the dam of five winners from six foals to race. Amexed is the only stakes winner, but Digital Fortress (NZ) (Savabeel) placed at Group 3 level and was fourth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).

Amexed was offered by Hallmark Stud at the 2012 Premier Sale, where Cameron Cooke Bloodstock secured him for $210,000. Tony Gollan trains the gelding for a large group of owners, and the horse has now had 22 starts for four wins and more than A$300,000 in prize-money.

“This horse won the Rough Habit Plate and was fifth in the Queensland Derby as a three-year-old but things went wrong and it wasn't until Ipswich he won again,” Gollan told Racenet.

“I believe he is potentially the best stayer I have trained and I am so pleased for the owners because they didn't complain once when he struck the bad patch.”