breednet.com.au

Exceed And Excels James Garfield Claims Mill Reef Stakes

Mark Smith - Sunday September 24

Following a narrow defeat in the Group III Acomb Stakes at York, Exceed And Excel's James Garfield went one better in the Group II Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Carrying the colours of his breeder Bill Gredley, James Garfield defeated the favourite Invincible Army (Invincible Spirit) by three-quarters of a length with Nebo (Kodiac) a half-length back in third.

With just one unplaced run in six starts, James Garfield has had a comparatively busy season but it's not over yet.

Advertisement

A first Group win for trainer George Scott, James Garfield will now head to America for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.


It's been some week for Scott following his marriage to Gredley's daughter.

"We went away for a couple of days in Majorca, but we are going on a proper honeymoon in January. I got married a week ago today so it has been a pretty amazing week," Scott told Sporting Life.

"He has danced every dance this year and has been unlucky on several occasions. He has shown it over five, six and seven furlongs now, so he is a pretty versatile horse. He has improved physically the whole time and I am slightly lost for words really.

"It was all pretty smooth for Frankie (Dettori). He said he was where he wanted to be, although he lost his position, he had plenty of horse and hit the line great - it was dream stuff really.

"We will go to the Breeders' Cup now. The Breeders' Cup has always been the race we've been wanting to go to.

"Exceed and Excel's have always gone great out there, he has got tactical speed and he will get a tight mile. Since he sat on him at York, Frankie has always been keen to go to the Breeders' Cup. If he ran in the first four here, that was the plan.

"He has made hay this year. People might think he is just a two-year-old, but he has grown and strengthened and put on plenty of condition. There is no reason why he can't keep progressing.

"I would imagine he would go for a seven-furlong trial (next year), then we have the two options, we can either go up to a mile or come back to six for the Commonwealth Cup."

A half-brother to the stakes-placed The Shrew, James Garfield is the best of four winners out of the stakes-winning Daylami mare Whazzat who hails from the family of Invincible Spirit  as well as star 2YO sire Kodiac and Coolmore's young gun sire Pride of Dubai, who covered 158 mares in Ireland this year.

Whazzat has a 2017 colt by Darley stallion Golden Horn.

James Garfield becomes the 137th stakes winner for Darley Stud's Exceed And Excel who is currently working his way through his 14th book of mares at Kelvinside where he stands at a fee of $110,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Consecutive Stakes Victories For Cafe Millenium
While it may have taken until he turned 5yo to record his first stakes victory, it only took until his very next start to record his second as the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Cafe Millenium added Saturday’s Listed VRC Tontonan Stakes (1400m) to his last start Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) win.
New SW Sweynesse - Miss Starlight Wins Canterbury Belle Stakes
Exciting three-year-old Miss Starlight thrust her name squarely into contention for future Group One honours when she destroyed a quality field of fillies in the time-honoured feature race at Riccarton on Saturday, the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m)
Sires With Winners - Friday September 12
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
My Gladiola Rings Up Invincible Stakes Double
Champion sire I Am Invincible was flexing at Flemington on Saturday with top class colt Vinrock taking out the Listed VRC Exford Plate followed straight after by flying grey filly My Gladiola, who beat a big field of fleet footed rivals to win the Listed VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m).
Ole Kirk 3YO Legacy Bound Stays Undefeated Winning Listed Poseidon
A slick field of three year-olds lined up in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday which saw G1 Blue Diamond winner Devil Night again fail to place, while the up and comers Legacy Bound and Navy Pilot fought out the finish.
Godolphin 2YO SW Starspangledbanner
Godolphin splashed out for a 450,000 guinea Starspangledbanner colt at the Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale last year and Avicenna made it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes (7f) at Doncaster overnight.
One to Watch – Geelong
Best known as the sire of Champion Sprinter Nature Strip, Nicconi is one of those evergreen sires that always has a handy horse out running for him and he had an eye-catching three year-old winner at Geelong on Friday that might have a lot more to offer.
Manaal Wins G2 Sheraco
Manaal is the horse that put her sire Tassort on the map when she won the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes on debut two years ago as a spring 2YO and the now 4YO mare is still going strong scoring a powerful win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
All The Way Win For Sixties In Ming Dynasty
With the first few races run on Saturday at Rosehill favouring those who led or sat handy, connections of Sixties (Flying Artie), the full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Artorius, surely went into the Group 3 ATC Ming Dynasty (1400m) with a level of confidence.
Vinrock Back to Best Winning Listed Exford Plate
Purchased by Yulong following his unbeaten juvenile season highlighted by a memorable victory in the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick, exciting I Am Invincible colt Vinrock hit top form at Flemington on Saturday.