Last-start Stawell winners and stablemates Exceptionally and Viva Delspec will take separate paths after they clash at Caulfield.Trained by Terry and Karina O'Sullivan, the promising three-year-old stayers were impressive 2000-metre winners on their home track and will be out to frank the form in Saturday's Thoroughbred Club Cup (2000m).Terry O'Sullivan said both horses were emerging youngsters but he rated Exceptionally ahead of Viva Delspec despite her running three seconds slower than him at

Last-start Stawell winners and stablemates Exceptionally and Viva Delspec will take separate paths after they clash at Caulfield.

Trained by Terry and Karina O'Sullivan, the promising three-year-old stayers were impressive 2000-metre winners on their home track and will be out to frank the form in Saturday's Thoroughbred Club Cup (2000m).

Terry O'Sullivan said both horses were emerging youngsters but he rated Exceptionally ahead of Viva Delspec despite her running three seconds slower than him at Stawell on March 15.

Exceptionally scored by a long head in a slowly-run race against 0-72 horses while Viva Delspec was a five-length maiden winner.

"Although she ran a slower time I think she would have the wood on him," O'Sullivan said.

"In her race they walked and you can blow three seconds in the first 800 metres."

O'Sullivan said the Group Three SA Classic, formerly Oaks, over 2400 metres was her campaign goal while Viva Delspec will be trying to show he is up to a crack at the VRC St Leger Stakes (2800m) at Flemington.

Last Saturday Exceptionally failed to get a run as first emergency in the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville which O'Sullivan said was a blessing.

"She drew barrier 16 so it was probably in her favour that she didn't run," O'Sullivan said.

He said Exceptionally, who is a daughter of Italian Group One winner Ekraar from Zabeel mare Sahayb, was a genuine stayer in the making.

"She will stay pretty good," O'Sullivan said. "She will run a mile and a half (2400m) no worries."

Her Stawell win was her second victory in seven starts and only her third run this campaign.

O'Sullivan said she had little luck when an eye-catching first-up third at Sandown while the Group Two Moonee Valley Classic (1600m) at her next run was the wrong race for her on February 26.

"She finished second last and was beaten six lengths in a hot race but I shouldn't have run her," O'Sullivan said.

Saturday's Caulfield assignment will be Exceptionally's last run before the SA Classic (2400m) at Morphettville on April 10.

Holly McKechnie, who won on Exceptionally at Stawell, has retained the mount at Caulfield while Garry Murphy will ride Viva Delspec.

The Thoroughbred Club Cup is the third heat of the Galilee series and O'Sullivan is hoping that Viva Delspec can run well enough to qualify for the $100,000 final over 2500 metres at Flemington on April 10.

The first three home in the Flemington final are exempt from the ballot for the VRC St Leger at Flemington on Anzac Day.