Connections of the exciting Canberra sprinter Xcessive Force are gearing up for her comeback at the Goulburn meeting on March 5, 2024. The four-year-old mare will compete in a Class 4 handicap and a preview for the Country Championship, racing over a distance of 1300 metres. This marks her first outing since a narrow miss in a Class 2 Highway event at Randwick last winter.
Trained by Danielle Seib, Xcessive Force is the daughter of Brutal, the winner of the 2019 Doncaster. Her previous campaign, which included four starts, yielded two wins as a strong favourite, alongside two second-place finishes. After being rested through the spring to focus on bigger goals for 2026, she has been in training for some time and is expected to be a strong favourite at Goulburn, despite drawing the outside barrier.
Aiming for the lucrative Country Championship final at Randwick on April 6, Xcessive Force may qualify through the Wagga qualifier on February 28 or the final qualifier at Goulburn on March 22. Additionally, she could target the listed National Sprint, a 1400-metre race at home on Black Opal Stakes day on March 10, with a potential Prelude meeting on February 20 before that.
Midnight Moose Debuts at Goulburn
The Goulburn meeting also features another promising talent from Canberra, Midnight Moose, who will make his debut in the opening maiden handicap over 1100 metres. The gelding, trained by Rob Potter, is a son of Knight Exemplar and has been prepared quietly for this moment. His recent performance in a trial at Cowra was impressive, suggesting he has considerable potential.
Early betting has positioned Midnight Moose at around $2.70, with local filly Classic Touch at $3.90 and Queanbeyan-based mare Closethedoordarcy around $5.00. If all goes well, Midnight Moose may also be directed towards the Black Opal Stakes meeting later in the season.
As these competitors prepare to take to the track, the anticipation builds for an exciting day of racing at Goulburn, where the potential for both Xcessive Force and Midnight Moose to shine is high. The upcoming events promise to be a significant early step in their respective campaigns.
