Barber Heads to the Blue Diamond Undefeated

Mark Smith - Saturday February 11

Godolphin's Exceed And Excel colt Barber kept his record at a perfect three for three in Saturday's Group III Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) at Sandown-Hillside.

Barber in full flight (image Grant Courtney)

Unlike his wins in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick and Golden Gift at Rosehill, Barber raced on the pace after showing speed from the barriers.

Jamie Kah waited until she saw the whites of their eyes before asking Barber for the supreme effort.

Advertisement

The son of Exceed And Excel defeated the Per Incanto (USA) colt Little brose by a neck, with a further three-quarter length to the Fastnet Rock colt Corniche in third.

The previously undefeated Western Australian Brave Halo (Brave Smash) was far from disgraced in fourth after having trouble finding clear air in the straight.

Stable representative Sean Keogh said Barber holds pride of place among the two-year-olds at Godolphin.

"He’s been the first seed for the team for quite some time after his first preparation, and he carried that pressure from the performances we’d seen on race days through to this preparation,” Keogh said.

“So it was good that he could get the job done at the business end of things, and James and the team felt that they had some improvement in the horse coming into today, although he would be competitive given the horse's standing.

“We (in Melbourne) only got a look at the horse during the week, and everything he has done with us has shown him to be a complete professional.

“The way he has carried himself on the course today, the weather is a bit warm, and everything he has done has shown he is a very smart horse.”

Always room for another son of Exceed And Excel on the Darley roster (image Grant Courtney)

The Hollywood handsome Barber has built a bank of $860,740 from his three wins.

A brother to the Group III MRC How Now Stakes winner Manicure, Barber is the third winner from five to race out of the Group III STC Research Stakes winner Trim.

A daughter of Lonhro, Trim died in 2020, and Barber is her final foal.

Advertisment

Race Result - Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) Gr3 1100m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:03.99
1
Barber
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Trim (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
2
0.3
Little Brose
- 2c Per Incanto (USA) x Mohegan Sky (USA) (Straight Man (USA))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 57
3
1.1
Corniche
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Montsegur (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Shinn 57
Fastnet Rock
4
1.2
Brave Halo
- 2c Brave Smash (JPN) x Danish Bingo (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: D Oliver 57
5
2.1
Amigo
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x You'Re So Good (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 57
6
4.6
Fire Follower
- 2c Harry Angel (IRE) x Romneya (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 57
7
5.1
Gangitano
- 2c Written By (AUS) x Colosimo (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: Amy & Ash Yargi Rdr: Craig Williams 57
8
7.9
Peerless Lad
- 2c Pierro (AUS) x Sprightly Lass (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Zac Spain 57
9
8.1
Some People Callme
- 2c Maurice (JPN) x Genesta (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 57
10
8.5
Tarabeau
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Tarabai (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
11
11.5
Goodes
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Apologynotaccepted (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: D Moor 57
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
First Black Type Victory For Nellie Leylax (IRE)
Not a bad way to break through for your first Australian victory as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Nellie Leylax (IRE) cleared out by more than two lengths to claim the Group 3 ATC Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick.
Exceed And Excel's Barber from Last to First in Golden Gift
A Group I Breeders Cup Turf Juvenile Sprint winner at Keeneland in the morning and a $ 1 million two-year-old stakes winner at Rosehill in the afternoon - another good day at the office for Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel.
Sterling Express Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Sterling Express stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.
Third Black Type Win For Snitzel’s Lazzura
A member of the Waller team to hold a dual acceptance leading into Saturday’s Randwick meeting, it was the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) where 4yo Snitzel mare Lazzura came out on top, recording her third black type victory.
Inglis Digital Buy Barber Wins Takeover Target
Having just his second start for his new connections after being purchased for $215,000 from the Godolphin draft at last year’s Inglis Digital December Online Sale, Exceed And Excel gelding Barber captured the $250,000 Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Autumn Glow
Resuming off the back of two solid barrier trials efforts, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stepped up to open company for the first time, with the $1.8m yearling purchase extending her unbeaten run to five with victory in the Group 3 ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Best On Breeding
Except for family and friends and a few loyal Sandgropers, Jamie Kah returned to a muted reception when earning her second Group 1 success on a $101 chance. It will be a different scenario at Sandown-Lakeside on Saturday if the popular jockey chalks up her tenth triumph at the elite level on a close relative of the shock winner.
Jenni Lets Loose At The Valley
Smart staying mare Jennivamoose recorded her third victory at The Valley when winning the Simpson Construction Handicap (2500m) in similar fashion to her previous victory at the venue.
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).