Team Hawkes’ brilliant colt Exceedance was back in winning form first-up at Rosehill Gardens defeating hot favourite Bivouac in the Group 3 $160,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) to firm into 2019 Golden Rose favouritism.

Exceedance flew into 2019 Golden Rose favouritism with an upset win in the San Domencio Stakes at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart.

All the rage in betting on the San Domenico Stakes was on Godolphin’s Vain Stakes winner Bivouac who was odds-on to make it three straight Group 3 victories.

The unknown in the race was the Heavy (9) Sydney track and the danger turned out to be Tommy Berry’s mount, flying Exceed And Excel colt Exceedance.

“He’s an exciting colt,” Berry said after the Group 3 victory.

“It was a bit like Libertini [winning the Silver Shadow Stakes] last week, we had to see him come back and do it but do it he did.

“He just wants to please you, he’s a lovely ride for a colt. Great attitude and please me he did.”

During his two-year-old season the Vinery Stud-raced galloper enjoyed a Wyong win on debut in mid-March before a close third at Rosehill in early June.

He turned up the heat and his rating on Saturday however, barnstorming home for an ultra-impressive Group 3 success in the San Domenico Stakes.

“We just let the horse do the talking,” co-trained Michael Hawkes said post-win.

“He’s had two good runs last campaign and coming into this race, this was the race we’d always targeted for him.”

Berry let the horse settle back early as the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained dual Group 2 winning filly Anaheed led them around.

Top hoop Hugh Bowman meanwhile got a clear passage between the leader and roughie hope Royal Popcorn aboard Bivouac who settled second.

Anaheed travelled well into the home turn, but Bivouac looked to be cruising at the 300m and the punters started early celebrations.

Out of nowhere however Exceedance wound up on the outside in a flash, going straight past the favourite before coming away to defeat Bivouac by two lengths.

“Bivouac certainly wasn’t as effective on the rain-affected winter ground but take nothing away from the winner, he was too good,” Bowman said after the disappointing loss.

Anaheed boxed on well for third to round out the San Domencio Stakes trifecta.

“To be fair, he was actually in the wrong spot with barrier one,” Hawkes added of Exceedance.

“With the tempo, they didn’t go overly hard.

“Tommy knew he was on the best horse and I actually said to him before the race, ‘just ride him like the best horse, you’re on the best horse’.”

The upset San Domenico Stakes winner showed he had a turn of speed and was able to reel off exciting sectionals even on a wet-track, adding his name to the list of the season’s top three-year-olds to watch ahead of next month’s Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).

“Once he let down…he just gobbled it up and made it look too easy,” Hawkes said.

“We really had to run today to know [how he would go on a wet track].

“This colt is a brilliant colt.

“He was just far superior.”

Held back at Rosehill Gardens on September 28, the futures 2019 Golden Rose betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au had Bivouac at $6.50 before his loss.

He is now out to $10, overtaken at the top of the Golden Rose odds by Exceedance ($12 into $4.40).

Exceedance has also firmed in the all-in markets for the Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12 from $16 to 8 and the Group 1 $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the famous Flemington straight on VRC Derby Day from $13 to $7.

2019 San Domenico Stakes Results & Finishing Order