Racing: Speed and Expel expected to excel in Ruakaka race debut

Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole. Photo / Trish Dunell

A strong showing is expected from the aptly-named Speed And Expel at Ruakaka today.

The colt has been a runaway trial winner and will step out on raceday for the first time in the Fell Engineering 2YO (1000m), in which Andrew Calder will take the ride.

"He's quite a smart animal and we've always had a lot of time for him," Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole said.

Speed And Expel made his only trial appearance over 800m at Avondale in February and he was untested to win by five lengths.

"I'd expect him to jump and be in front again," Cole said. "He's had a jump-out on the course proper at Pukekohe Park as well and he won that quite impressively."

With the better ground on offer on the northern track in the coming months, Speed And Expel has two return trips pencilled in to Ruakaka.

"There's another race there over 900m in about a month, so he'll probably go there," Cole said.

"All going well, there's the Northland Breeders' Stakes for the early three-year-olds and that would be ideal for him."

A son of Exceed And Excel, Speed and Expel was a $195,000 Ready to Run Sale purchase out of Jamieson Park's 2017 draft at Karaka.

He is a son of the American-bred stakes performer Kylie's Way, whose three foals to race have all been winners.

- NZ Racing Desk