The anticipated return of Without Exception, full brother of the outstanding filly She’s A Maneater — Triple Crown, Superstakes and Diamond Mile winner — produced no sparks in the 25th running of the Sweet Ruckus Trophy (seven furlongs — 1,400 metres) on Saturday. Instead the bay colt gave a workmanlike performance, suggesting there might be more to come.

After winning on debut on September 9, 2017, going five furlongs (1,000m) on the round course when he defeated Commander Two (later disqualified) by two lengths in a time of 1:01.1 on a muddy racing surface, Without Exception picked up an injury and had to sit out the Supreme Ventures Limited-sponsored Two-Year-Old Triple Crown Series.

Without Exception’s return on Saturday more than anything else showed true grit when he scored a fighting one-and-a-half-length win over Honey Ryda, a winner of two races thus far.

Although the final time done by Without Exception was a pedestrian 1:27.2, his trainer, 17-time champion Wayne DaCosta, was pleased with the effort of his bay colt by Natural Selection out of the Royal Minister mare Ahwhofah.

“He ( Without Exception) had a sore shin and splint, and basically what we did was pin-fired him and gave him four months off to rest. He is good now; he came into this race a bit short of preparation, but because of the owner (Winston Kong) situation, we took the chance and raced him and he came out victorious, thank God.

“It was a good performance… a workmanlike performance, but it was obvious in the final furlong of the race that he ( Without Exception) needed a little more fitness, and hopefully next time he will be totally ready to go,” DaCosta remarked.

It was a clean start for all six runners, but the trio of Without Exception (Dane Nelson), My Sister (Dane Dawkins) and Honey Ryda (Anthony Thomas) distanced themselves from the rest of the field after a few strides. The three were stuck together as if glued from the start until turning for home when My Sister began to fade, leaving Without Exception and Honey Ryda to battle it out to the end.

Honey Ryda, who was on the outside, tried to surge in deep stretch over Without Exception, but the latter refused to give up, and the fierce battle continued. Without Exception, who had saved ground all the way on the inside rails, responded well to the bustling Nelson, got in front, and edged away for an emphatic victory.

Without Exception’s stable companion Band Of Gold, under Phillip Parchment, came on strong for third place, with Azaria (Odeen Edwards) completing the frame.

“I am always happy whenever I win races, and to have opened the programme today (Saturday), I am grateful. Without Exception is really a nice horse, and with more room for improvement he will be going places,’ Nelson declared.