Exceed And Excel's Zethus Claims the Canonbury Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday January 30

Highly-touted I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs looked set to make a winning debut when dashing clear half-way down the straight in Saturday’s Group III Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.  He then began to shorten stride on the rain-affected track and was nabbed on the line by Godolphin’s Exceed and Excel colt Zethus.

The royal blue of Godolphin gets the better of the all-navy of Coolmore in the Canonbury (Steve Hart)

Ridden by Rachel King for trainer James Cummings, Zethus was strong to the line to defeat Home Affairs by a half-head with a head back to the Your Song colt Sing A Love Song a fast-finishing third.

Zethus impressed on debut when second to the boom colt Remarque over the same track and distance on January 16.

“He had plenty of improvement in him before his debut. He ran beautifully first up against Remarque, and he backed that up by improving a bit today,” Cummings said.

“He knuckled down so strongly against a very classy colt. He is looking for every bit for 1200m next time.

“It’s only the end of January, and there are quite a few steps to take before the big races. He is doing everything right so far and has plenty of upside.

Advertisement

“He has the best attitude, and I say it every year that is the most important ingredient to see in a good colt like him. He keeps improving every time you raise the bar. He will have no trouble when he steps up in distance and when the pressure goes into these races.”  

Zethus - Rachel King (Steve Hart)

A brother to the Group III ATC Magic Night Stakes winner Calliope and a three-quarter brother to the Listed BRC Mick Dittman Plate winner Aquitaine, Zethus is one of four winners from five to race out of the stakes-placed mare Melpomene.

A daughter of Elusive Quality (USA), Melpomene is a half-sister to Group II ATC Furious Stakes winner Bound For Earth (Northern Meteor), and the stakes-placed Romanus (Encosta de Lago). They are out of the VRC Oaks heroine Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me).

Purchased by John Ferguson Bloodstock as a yearling for $825,000, Melpomene has a yearling colt by Astern. After missing to Zoustar in 2019, she was cover by Harry Angel (IRE) last spring.

Zethus becomes the 181st stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel who covered 102 mares at his 17th season at stud last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Canonbury Stakes Gr3 1100m

Rosehill Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:06.62
1
Zethus
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Melpomene (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
2
0.1
Home Affairs
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Miss Interiors (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 54.5
I Am Invincible
3
0.3
Sing A Love Song
- 2c Your Song (AUS) x Xaar's Jewel (AUS) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Tom Sherry 54.5
4
0.5
Montana Flash
- 2c Star Turn (AUS) x Dukemore (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 54.5
5
1.5
Giannis
- 2c Flying Artie (AUS) x Palace Rock (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: S Clipperton 54.5
6
2.9
Readily Availabull
- 2c Bull Point (AUS) x Readily (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Regan Bayliss 57.5
7
4.8
Surplus Value
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Oridane (AUS) (King Of Danes (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: R Dolan 54.5
8
11.8
Bullpen
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Lindy Lou (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
More Reading...
One to Watch – Kembla
The Myracehorse owners that braved the cold and damp conditions at Kembla on Friday were well rewarded when their Farnan gelding Ninja trotted up to win by a widening 11 lengths!
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 1
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bountiful and Many Men to be Offered at Tattersalls Online Southern Hemisphere Pop-Up Sale
The high-class pair BOUNTIFUL (Zoustar) and MANY MEN (Study of Man) have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online Southern Hemisphere Pop-Up Sale to be held in collaboration with Inglis Digital Australia on Wednesday 6th August to Thursday 7th August. Full details of the sale which will take place on the Tattersalls Online website are now available to view at www.tattersallsonline.com.
Yes Yes Yes Filly Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Passionate owner/ breeder Julia Ritchie is one of the key shareholders in Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, who recently relocated to Gooree Park Stud, and a filly she bred and sold called Mrs Goldberg collected a $100,000 Inglis Xtra bonus on Friday at Coffs Harbour.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds Welcome First foal for Ozzmosis
The next chapter for Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis has officially begun with the arrival of his first foal. A bay colt out of the stakes-placed mare Cool Change (NZ) was born last night at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, marking a significant milestone for the exciting son of Zoustar.
Shooting to Win Relocating to Yarradale Stud
Yarradale Stud has purchased Group 1 racehorse and sire Shooting To Win to cover his first book at its Gidgegannup property this season.
Farnan Friday – Winning Double
Farnan sired 14 first crop winners last season to be leading first season sire by winners and his first two runners on Friday both came out and won at Kembla giving him the perfect start to a new racing year.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Larneuk Stud’s value Lonhro sire Impending only just missed a century of winners last season and was quick to keep the momentum going with a promising debut winner at Cranbourne on Friday in the Laurel Oak Bloodstock colours.