Winning Debut With A Vengeance

As professional as you like, With A Vengeance (2 c Exceed And Excel – Eleusa, by Medaglia d’Oro) proved a stylish debut winner in the $18,500 Tulloch Cafe 2YO 1000 metres on 8 October at Avondale.

Having let down nicely to win a trial on 5 August at Te Rapa, and repeated that performance when sustaining a strong gallop from outside the leader on 9 September at Ellerslie, With A Vengeance had shown precocious ability to race handily, which served him well at the first time of asking on race day.

Ridden by the Champion Jockey from last season, Craig Grylls, With A Vengeance hit the ground running, while others displayed greenness, and after travelling collectedly in front he quickened appreciably to win comfortably by a neat length. 

“He was very professional, he's a lovely colt, and a beautiful type,” Grylls said. “He bounced away and put himself right there. He wanted to lay out around the home turn a bit but once he straightened up, but he put them away quite nicely.

“He’s a really beautiful colt and he's got a good action, so I think when he gets on top of the ground he’ll lengthen nicely too. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does in the future.”

On footing that upgraded to Heavy9, With A Vengeance ran 1000 metres in 1:01.9 and although not race favourite he paid $2.70 & $1.20, in a field of five, on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course, assistant trainer Reece Trumper said: “He showed great gate speed out of the stalls. We love seeing some of our two-year-olds in early races and he’s a horse that always showed promise right from day one.

“He trialled so well at Ellerslie (Soft5), so we were concerned today on a Heavy10, but the track is playing really nicely, and a big thanks to Dave (Ellis) for buying this colt out of the Magic Millions' Sale. 

“As a rule, every stallion leaves one (good horse) in their last crop, and he’s from Exceed And Excel’s last crop. So, we picked him out and hopefully he can get the job done for everyone later in the season.”

It was terrific to see racing return to Avondale, a really good course with long history, and welcomed by Te Akau trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, as With A Vengeance became their fourth winner from only six starters on the track in their two seasons together, given limited racing opportunities at Avondale. 

“He’s been really well educated and it was good to see him win first-up,” Walker said. 

“He did everything right and at the 200m he shifted into another gear to win nicely. It was really pleasing to see and exciting for the owners to see him do that on debut.

“He’s got a great bunch of owners, and I really liked the way he put his ears back and attacked the line today.  He wasn’t expensive for an Exceed And Exceed colt, given he’s been a Champion Sire and incredible stallion worldwide. 

“We’ll probably give him a little break now and head towards the Counties' Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on 22 November at Pukekohe.” 

Owned by the Te Akau Vengeance Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), With A Vengeance was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$240,000 in January at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Widden Stud. 

Champion Sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill) retired from stud duties in 2024, as one of the greatest stallions to ever stand in Australia.

A revered international shuttle stallion for Darley, Exceed and Excel is one of only seven stallions to sire in excess of 200 stakes' winners. 

A sire of sires and a leading broodmare sire, Exceed and Excel has always been regarded as a highly reliable source of speed.

His dam Eleusa is also by highly respected international sire Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado), the sire of Group 1 Golden Slipper winner and subsequent sire Vancouver. 

At the time of buying With A Vengeance, Ellis said: “He’s a colt with a lot of physical presence and maturity, and a truly international pedigree.

“He’s a looks a real get-up-and-go type of colt, powerful, and very forward going in his approach.

“There is also plenty of depth in his pedigree to keep training on as a three, four, and five-year-old.”

With A Vengeance was strapped by Tom Murphy.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz