On his debut, In Excess won the October 5, 1989, EBF Sleeping Partner Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park Racecourse.
Purchased by American Jack J. Munari, In Excess was brought to race in the United States during the second half of 1990.
On January 19, 1991, In Excess made his first start on dirt in the San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
In addition, the race was to be held that year at Churchill Downs and In Excess put up slow times in pre-race training on that track.
As a result, his trainer elected to run him in the Breeders' Cup Mile on grass, a surface he had won on in England and the United States.