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.

Visit the profile page for Exceed And Excel

Exceed And Excel in upcoming sales:
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...
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
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.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.