breednet.com.au

All Roads Lead to Blue Diamond for Exceed And Excel's Zulfiqar

Mark Smith - Saturday February 4

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.

Zulfiqar is Blue Diamond bound (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Ben Melham for James Cummings, Zulfiqar found the lead from his inside barrier. The favourite Veecee was caught three deep, although Ethan Brown still had a handful of horse when asked for the supreme effort.

Veecee levelled up, but Zulfiqar began to rally and pulled clear to defeat the Capitalist colt Veecee by one and a quarter lengths, with the Showtime debutant Tacit a further length and a quarter back in third.

Born on July 31 2020, Zulfiqar carries the 1 over 2 brand indicating he was the first foal for Godolphin born that year.

The son of Exceed And Excel followed his winning career debut in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes with a fifth, as favourite, in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate on the same track a month later.

Ben Melham said Zulfiqar had taken benefit from the break.

"He has definitely come back a better horse," Melham said.

"James (Cummings) said he was the first foal born on the farm, so that has to count for something.

"He was able to control the race, get to the right part of the track.

Advertisement

"There is no doubt (about the 1200m of the Blue Diamond. He is a sensible horse and was strong through the line.

"He will run well in the Diamond."

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).

Alizes is the dam of Godolphin's blue hen 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.

Frankel covered Sayf Shamal (USA) before she was shipped to Australia, but unfortunately, she slipped.

The daughter of Elusive Quality (USA) has a yearling brother to Zulfiqar and a filly foal by Lonhro. She revisited Exceed And Excel last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Lamaro's Hotel Chairman's Stks Gr3 1000m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:59.33
1
Zulfiqar
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Sayf Shamal (USA) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 59
2
1.3
Veecee
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Isabella (AUS) (Poet's Voice (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 59
3
3.1
Tacito
- 2c Showtime (AUS) x Without Saying (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
4
3.7
Serasana
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Twilight Royale (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: D Yendall 57
5
6.0
Written Bligh
- 2f Written By (AUS) x Lady Bligh (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
6
7.7
Hells Son
- 2g Hellbent (AUS) x Mowgli (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Dale Rdr: J Bowditch 57
7
11.0
Miss Burgoyne
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Silk Sheets (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 55
8
11.2
Perilous Fighter
- 2c Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Beauty School (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: Craig Williams 57
More Reading...
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Exceed And Excel Quinella in Maribyrnong Trial
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.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.