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...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday April 15
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.
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.
Who Do You Pick? Star Mares of Tomorrow
In chatting with our guest Jim Clarke this week on our Tara Talks Racing podcast we discussed a topic that will no doubt spark plenty of interest from our audience, if you could have one three year-old filly to take forward and race next season at four, who would it be?
Yes Yes Yes It’s Been a Big Week for Kate Nivison!
This time last week passionate owner breeder Kate Nivison was basking in the success of having bred and sold a $1.7million Extreme Choice colt at Inglis Easter and today she was enjoying a different sort of success as a winning owner at Kembla.
One to Watch – Kembla
The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred and very expensive colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win.
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.
El Vencedor Primed for Hong Kong
It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor, as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
Almanzor Mare Benefits from Maturity
Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season.