The Godolphin two-year-olds have come out running this season, with the latest coming at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The Exceed And Excel colt Roussillon displayed the benefit of his debut fourth behind promising stablemate Remedies at Cranbourne on November 12 to open his winning account in The Autumn Sun@arrowfield Maiden (1100m).
Ridden by Tyler Schiller for James Cummings, Roussillon stuck a dagger in the sponsor when sailing down the centre of the track to defeat The Autumn Sun’s first runner, Deciduous, by a half-length.
The Shalaa (IRE) filly Chilled was a further half-neck back in third.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Deciduous went off favourite to give his sire the perfect start. He was cramped for room in the straight but did enough to enhance the appeal of his sister heading to the Magic Millions in January.
Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said Roussillon is typical of the breed.
“He’s a lovely Exceed And Excel colt out of a stakes-winning mare, who won the Mona Lisa (Stakes), so he has the bloodlines to deliver the goods,” Beadman said.
“A very professional horse who did a lot of work here before going to Melbourne. He was a little bit green and benefited from the experience at Cranbourne.
“He arrived from Melbourne in great order, and it was a lovely ride by Tyler.
“Exceed And Excel has stamped himself over the years as a sire of young horses that perform on race day. He has been a real asset for Godolphin, and they are beautiful horses to work with.”
Roussillon is the second winner from three to race out of Street Cry (IRE) mare Fitou who finished second in the Group III Tibbie stakes following her Listed Mona Lisa Stakes triumph.
A daughter of the stakes-winner Vintner (Hennessy) from the family of Triscay, Fitou has a yearling filly by Brazen Beau and missed to Impending last spring.
Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel has 25catalogued for the magic Millions, two at the Inglis Classic and one at Karaka.
