Exciting Exceed And Excel 3yo filly Mandee delivered win number 7 for the First Light Racing and Ciaron Maher team and the 4th FLR winner for gun jockey Linda Meech with a dominant display winning first-up on Monday at Pakenham.

Having her first start for Ciaron Maher after transferring over from Peter Moody, Mandee started at nearly un-backable odds-on favourite Monday and never looked in doubt.

Mandee jumped cleanly and showed her typical early speed to go straight to the front despite pre-race tactics from the team to try and get some cover early.

She relaxed beautifully and Linda controlled the race before kicking clear to win quite easily in the end in what looked nothing more than a track gallop like effort.

View Race Replay - https://www.racing.com/form/2016-10-10/racingcom-park-syn/race/1

A filly who’s always shown nicely ability, Mandee debut in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes as a 2yo back in the Autumn for Moody and it was a day to forget after her nerves got the better of her and she bolted to the starting gates running her race beforehand. She was arguably allowed to run despite efforts from Glen Boss to get her scratched and she ran accordingly.

There were no signs of the mentally immature Mandee on Monday and a lot credit to the Ciaron Maher team to have brought her along so patiently and working hard on her attitude and racing manners.

"She did everything right this time - she relaxed beautifully and controlled the race in-front before kicking clear to win quite easily in the end despite facing a strong headwind.” said trainer Ciaron Maher.

"She's made great improvement this campaign both mentally and physically and she showed real class yesterday. She’s always been a talented, natural running type of filly but early days she was quite hot and busy in the mind. We’ve worked hard on her attitude and to get her to relax and it’s great to see her bring it to the races on Monday”.

Fast becoming one of FLR’s favourites, jockey Linda Meech was full of praise for Mandee post race after bringing up her 4th winner for the FLR team.

"She went super and showed a great attitude today. She jumped so well and relaxed in front better than I thought she would and went at a steady tempo before kicking away for a very soft win. There was a very strong headwind too so more credit to her effort and I think she's a city class filly at the very least.”

Mandee was a standout from the day she was purchased for $160,000 at the Inglis Premier yearling Sale in 2015. Given top marks by her then trainer Peter Moody and FLR’s Bloodstock Agent Paul Willetts, Mandee not only had the physique typical of Exceed And Excel’s best, but a mouthwatering pedigree to match.

"She has a world class pedigree - not an Australian pedigree, not a New Zealand pedigree - but a world class international pedigree from the family of a very good filly I trained in Kings Rose" said Peter Moody.

"She's a 'cheap’ filly in hindsight and she carries such immense upside that any success on the racetrack is going to give her owners exponential returns.”

Mandee now looks set to deliver on her potential with Ciaron marking down the Listed Crockett Stakes for 3yo Fillies over 1200m on Cox Plate day as her next target.

“She’s pulled up really well and I think she’ll take further improvement from the win on Monday. We’ll give her a chance to step up to stakes grade and hopefully she can measure up on Cox Plate day in the Crockett Stakes”

If she does, you can be sure Barry Manilow’s Mandy will be ringing all around the Valley which owners have quickly claimed as the filly’s theme song!

#OhMandee

Congratulations Owners: David La Bozzetta, Scott Bingley, Craig Youl, Carly Halliday, Dr G Tsoi, Bryan and Penny Mears, Krisdapal Syndicate (John Russell, Lorraine Russell, Adam Russell, Paul Russell, Kristin Flanagan) Rodney Neil, Robin Gosden, Richie Powell, Chris Pinniger