3 minute read
Exciting colt Exceedance took a big step towards consolidating his future stud career with a classy first-up win in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
A heavyweight syndicate of investors put together by Vinery Stud went shopping for likely stallion prospects in 2018 and may have landed a real bargain after they paid $180,000 for the colt by Exceed And Excel from the Thorn Park mare Bonnie Mac at the Sydney Easter sale.
The group that includes Neil Werrett, Steve McCann, Colin Madden, Rupert Legh, Doug Alderslade, Glenlogan Park and Phoenix Thoroughbreds, purchased five yearling colts in 2018 with Exceedance top of the class after just three career starts.
While similar syndicates searching for stallion prospects generally focus on the top end of the yearling market, the Vinery group operate within a budget in a bid to secure four or five likely types each year.
"We got a few guys involved and got together a colts' fund. It's not very big, but we try to buy four or five colts each year," said Vinery Stud's Peter Orton.
"It's just a good way to enjoy racing and have an opportunity to get into some good colts. We use our resources to source out the better ones and we have been quite lucky."
The classy G2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Headwater, now standing at Vinery with his first crop of 2YOs to race this season, was an early success story for the syndicate.
He is also by Exceed And Excel and that factor may have driven the syndicate towards Exceedance when he was offered at the 2018 sale by his breeder Nick Vass through the Newgate Farm draft.
"We have always been a big fan of Exceed And Excel having reared him at Vinery. They always seem to be on our radar," Orton said.
"We are aware of what his sons are starting to do and Exceedance shapes up well. He's a beautiful looking horse out of a lovely balanced family.
"Pedigree depth is always important. He's got all those qualities."
The syndicate also secured the G1 placed Snitzel colt Reloaded and stakes placed Born A Warrior (I Am Invincible) in 2018 but have a real star in the making in Exceedance.
Exceedance raced just twice last season for a win and an unlucky placing and entered the San Domenico Stakes off good trials but with the expectation that he would be all the better for the outing on the heavy track.
His raw talent came to the fore as he easily ran down the high class Godolphin colt Bivouac, winner of the G2 Vain Stakes at his previous start in Melbourne, to join an impressive list of colts who have won the San Domenico Stakes.
The list includes the likes of successful sires General Nediym, Testa Rossa, Charge Forward, Foxwedge, Zariz and Duporth and newer stud arrivals Star Turn and Pariah.
Exceedance will become a hot stud prospect if he can win the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill later this month and from there progress to either the Caulfield Guineas or Coolmore Stud Stakes at the Melbourne carnival.
His pedigree suggests he will get better up to 1600m as he is the first foal from Bonnie Mac, a Listed winner over 1200m and a half sister to G3 Grand Prix winner Upham (Mastercraftman) and G3 Epona Stakes winner Intimate Moment (Dubawi).
Bonnie Mac was purchased for $460,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale by Guy Mulcaster and was sold in foal to Capitalist for $375,000 at the same sale this year to Allam Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock.
A brother to Exceedance was bought for $125,000 by Singapore trainer Stephen Gray at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she has a yearling filly by the late Sebring.
