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.

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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.

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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
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