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...
Hot Lots Day Four – Magic Millions
After three days of Book 1 selling, Friday’s super session sees 280 lots catalogued in what will surely be a bumper day in the ring.
$1.6million Snitzel Filly Stars at MM Day 3
The latest yearling from Arrowfield Stud's grand producer Madame Andree topped Day Three of selling at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Thursday.
$1.6Million for Sister to Caffe Florian
Three year-old Snitzel filly Caffe Florian has been one of the finds of the summer in Sydney reeling off three successive wins culminating with a Black Type success in the Listed Gosford Guineas and her full sister lit up the Magic Millions sale ring on Thursday selling for $1.6million.
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.
People at Magic Millions - Day Three
Day Three at Magic Millions and Maree wasn’t finding it difficult to find the love for Frankel, while there’s a great story about a $250,000 sale from a $6,000 service fee with Ben Lucas.
Home Affairs Filly Dazzling on Debut for Lindsay Park
The Lindsay Park team have had a week far beyond what we would call tough, but a good horse is often the best tonic and Home Affairs filly Jacaranda scored a dazzling six length debut win at Seymour on Thursday.
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.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Three heats won by juveniles at Randwick on Thursday morning and two of those winners were unraced fillies by Home Affairs and Farnan with a half-sister to the latter being sold at Magic Millions on Tuesday and might just be a saleyard gift!
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.
$1.1million Frankel Colt Sold by Newgate
Juddmonte Farms based champion sire Frankel has exerted a powerful presence on the Magic Millions this year and had a second million dollar yearling on Thursday when the Newgate Farm consigned colt from Miss Alacrity (USA) sold for $1.1million.