Ballarat trainer Richard Cully aiming Adelaide Cup winner Excelleration at Andrew Ramsden at Flemington

Excelleration’s rise through the Australian staying ranks could land him in the Melbourne Cup via Saturday’s $500,000 Andrew Ramsden at Flemington.

Excelleration could continue his rapid improvement to earn a Melbourne Cup start via Saturday's Andrew Ramsden at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

Ballarat trainer Richard Cully says there’s only one way to find out whether he has a Melbourne Cup horse in his stable.

Excelleration proved himself at Group 3 level in the Launceston Cup and Group 2 level in the Adelaide Cup but he needs to show he’s up to the level in the Melbourne Cup.

Earning a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption by winning Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden would give an indication that being competitive isn Australia’s great race was more than a dream for Cully.

The $500,000 Andrew Ramsden will give Cully plenty of information as he attempts to work out Excelleration’s spring preparation.

It's more than just racing!

Come behind the scenes with us as connections of 2024 @tabcomau Adelaide Cup winner Excelleration come to terms with winning the $350,000 Group 2 race. pic.twitter.com/OEsJQBk28X

— Morphettville Racecourse (@SAJockeyClub) March 12, 2024

Cully believed Excelleration was close, but not quite able to secure a Melbourne Cup start with his handicap rating of 99, prompting him to run the gelding in the Andrew Ramsden.

* Can Amelia’s Jewel bounce back … or is she a has-been?

“I thought you probably need to be (rated) 102 or 103 to be guaranteed a run and he’s just a little bit below that,” Cully said.

“If we didn’t run on Saturday, we’d be putting all our eggs in the one basket.

“If he’s not good enough Saturday, that’s fair enough and we can go a different route in the spring but I didn’t want to leave it to the last minute to work it out.

“Even if he doesn’t win and runs really well, we can think, ‘righto, we’ll aim towards the Cup’ but if he wasn’t good enough then we’ll aim towards something else.

“If he wins another race and goes up to 104, then he’s probably a chance of getting in anyway.”

Excelleration is one of Australia’s most improved gallopers this season, progressing from a midfield finish in a Benchmark 84 race at Ballarat to become a Group 2 winner in the space of four starts.

* Melbourne Cup berth on the line for Mostly Cloudy

Handy galloper Excelleration has won the Launceston and Adelaide Cups at his last two starts. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

The son of Excelebration thrived over longer trips, winning Group races over 2400m and 3200m at his last two starts.

Cully said finally being able to consistently race Excelleration was the key to his improvement.

* Pride’s secret weapon to topple I Wish I Win in Doomben 10,000

“Just getting out in trip has been a huge help,” Cully said.

“He was a pretty good galloper over shorter trips but we just couldn’t get enough runs into him to get him out in trip. There was always some little stumbling block and we couldn’t get the runs into him.

He’s pretty lightly raced for seven.

He didn’t race until he was four so he’s really only had 20 runs in three years but there was little things, like he stood on a toe clip and hurt himself and he’s had a little operation to get a little lump in his throat out.”

Excelleration has not raced since his Adelaide Cup win on March 11.

However, Cully was confident Excelleration would be fit enough to win over 2800m first-up, especially after pleasing trials at Bendigo and Horsham.

“He’s had to the two trials and he’s in good nick,” Cully said.

“He’s naturally very fit. He galloped yesterday (Monday) and pulled up with a heart rate of 80, which is unheard of.”

Jockey Harry Coffey will stick with Excelleration in the Andrew Ramsden.

Originally published as Ballarat trainer Richard Cully aiming Adelaide Cup winner Excelleration at Andrew Ramsden at Flemington