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Exceed And Excel’s reputation as one of the most prolific producers of stakes-winning juveniles received another boost when the much vaunted colt McLaren opened his career at Rosehill on Saturday.

McLaren’s debut success in the G3 Canonbury Stakes over 1100m made him Exceed And Excel’s 154th individual stakes winner.

Almost half of Exceed And Excel’s black type winners have been 2YOs and McLaren may become one of his stars after living up to the expectations of his trainer Peter and Paul Snowden.

"It is good to get that done but there is a lot of room for improvement,' said Peter Snowden.

“It's only his first start and you can't do anymore than win and he's done that."

McLaren (Exceed And Excel x Serenada by Encosta De Lago) was unbeaten in three trials. He showed speed and tractability to race on the pace and then respond resolutely to score by a length.

The colt is part of the massive investment in yearlings by the stallion syndicate of China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and WinStar Farm, being a $380,000 purchase at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Baramul Stud draft.

Snowden said the ownership syndicate deserved the success given the amount of money they invested into the industry.

The Snowdens also trained dual G1 winner Russian Revolution (Snitzel) for the synbicate. He was retired to Newgate Farm last year.

McLaren’s dam Serenada is a half-sister to G2 winners First Command (Commands) and Oneworld (Danehill Dancer) and the stakes placed Rule The River (Commands) and Twilight Song (Fastnet Rock).

She has also produced the G3-placed Cao Cao (Fastnet Rock) and has a weanling filly by Snitzel.

Exceed And Excel’s sons at stud include Headwater, a grandson of McLaren’s third dam Ride The Rapids (River Rough).

Exceed And Excel filly Nafaayes, trained by Mike de Kock for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell, won the G2 Gauthen Filies Guineas at Turffontein to take her record to four wins from six starts.

Nafaayes (Exceed And Excel x Decelerator by Dehere) was a $350,000 buy from Kia Ora Stud's 2017 Easter Sale draft.