breednet.com.au

Exceed And Excel Quinella in Maribyrnong Trial

Mark Smith - Saturday October 1

Exceed And Excel may have missed with the $1,200,000 colt Mach Ten in the Breeders’ Plate at Randwick, but he struck shortly after with the Godolphin homebred Zulfiqar in the Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington.

Zulfiqar - tough win (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Ben Melham for James Cummings, Zulfiqar looked likely to be run down several times in the straight. He rallied to defeat the $310,000 Exceed And Excel filly Aditi by a neck with one and a quarter lengths back to the sensationally backed Charm Stone, a $1,550,000 daughter of I Am Invincible.

James Cummings revealed Zulfiqar was the first born at Godolphin in 2020:

“Zulfiqar is our number one foal out of the whole crop, and that’s a great advantage because he’s mature and bigger than most of his colleagues back in the barns,” Cummings said.

“He’s got a bit of speed about him, and Ben Melham was able to use that and got him into stride using that inside running rail that’s so advantageous.

“It’s a great credit to all my staff at Crown Lodge who have just nursed this horse along, brought him in prep by prep and have him ready to go even for the Breeders Plate.

“But I did not want to run the horse on a rain-affected track, and there was Flemington with Liam O’Keefe having this track perfect laying in wait for us.

Advertisement

“That’s a great result for our teams, our farms. Exceed And Excel, that’s Stakes winner number one million or something, and he’s run the quinella in the Maribyrnong Trial.”

Zulfiqar is the first live foal of the winning Elusive Quality mare Sayf Shamal (USA). While she carries the USA suffix, Sayf Shamal (USA) is a daughter of the STC Magic Night Stakes winner Alizes (Rory’s Jester).

Coincidently the Breeder’s Plate winner Empire Of Japan is out of another Magic Night winner, Ichihara.

Alizes earned her place in Godolphin folklore as the dam of the magnificent broodmare Essaouira (Exceed and Excel). A three-quarter sister to Zulfiqar, Essaouira is the dam of Group 1 winners Alizee and Astern, and stakes-placed Tassort and Mogador.

Sayf Shamal (USA) has a yearling brother to Zulfiqar and was covered by Microphone last spring.

Zulfiqar is the 203rd stakes-winner for Exceed And Excel. 

Exceed And Excel

Advertisment

Race Result - Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stks LR 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.90
1
Zulfiqar
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Sayf Shamal (USA) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 58
2
0.3
Aditi
- 2f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Witches (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: B Shinn 56
3
1.6
Charm Stone
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Najoom (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
I Am Invincible
4
2.5
Beluga Express
- 2c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Kasuga (CAN) (Temple City (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: L Nolen 58
5
3.5
Acappella Moon
- 2f Sebring Sun (AUS) x In Unison (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Ethan Brown 56
6
4.0
Krakarib
- 2c Ribchester (IRE) x Skagerrak (AUS) (Dawn Approach (IRE))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: Damian Lane 58
7
5.5
Another Nephew
- 2c Sizzling (AUS) x Husson's Kiss (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: M J Dee 58
8
8.0
Mount Olympus
- 2c Invader (AUS) x Euryale (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Dean Holland 58
More Reading...
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
All Roads Lead to Blue Diamond for Exceed And Excel's Zulfiqar
Godolphin's Exceed And Excel colt Zulfiqar ran up to his debut win in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington last October, with a game front-running triumph in Saturday's Group III Lamaro's Hotel Chairman's Stakes (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.