Exceed and Excel Filly Breaks Record at Tattersalls October Book Two

Media Release - Wednesday October 11

Trade continued in buoyant fashion on the second day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale which saw a daughter of EXCEED AND EXCEL become the highest priced filly ever to be sold at the sale when making 500,000 guineas. 

A total of 8 lots realised 300,000 guineas or more on a day that saw turnover of 15,197,000 guineas for the 203 lots sold. The average increased 12% to 74,862 guineas and the median rose 20% to 60,000 guineas whilst the clearance rate was a healthy 85%.

The top billing on the second day of Book 2 went to a daughter of EXCEED AND EXCEL that made 500,000 guineas, becoming the highest priced filly ever to be sold at this fixture and the third highest-priced yearling in the history of the sale. It was a winning bid from Richard Brown acting on behalf of SackvilleDonald's Alastair Donald that secured the filly from eventual underbidder David Redvers, standing with Shiekh Fahad and Peter Molony.

Exceed and Excel filly sold for 500,000 guineasCatalogued as Lot 927, the daughter of the Listed-placed mare TIANA is a sister to five winners from five runners including BEAT THE BANK, the impressive winner of the Group 2 Joel Stakes last month for Andrew Balding. That horse is owned by King Power Racing and Donald indicated that the filly was purchased on behalf of the same connections.

The sale also represented the highest sale price ever achieved by breeder Denniff Farms who sell through Rosyground Stud. A delighted Fiona Denniff commented following the sale;

"She has been really busy and had hardly been in her stable since she arrived but I this has exceeded my expectations.

"It has been exciting watching Beat The Bank this summer, but I have always loved this filly, she is a really nice person.

"We bred the mare Tiana, sold her as a yearling to Darley and then bought her back. We missed her the first time she went through the sales ring as we could not afford her, but bought her three years later."

Later in the day the bid board was lit up by a DARK ANGEL filly that made 400,000 guineas when knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff, stood alongside MV Magnier. Yeomanstown Stud, the home of DARK ANGEL, bred and consigned the daughter of the SHAMARDAL mare WARSHAH - a half sister to Group 1 Prix de l'Opera winner KINNAIRD, the dam of Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner BERKSHIRE.

David O'Callaghan of Yeomanstown said;

"We pin-hooked the mare as a foal and sold her as a yearling to Shadwell. I then bought her back at the July Sale and then the very next day her half-brother Mickdaam won his maiden.

"The pedigree has just developed since and Berkshire and all those out of Kinnard have jumped into the page. It was a lucky day when we bought her back [for 26,000 guineas].

"Her first foal Volition sold for 300,000 guineas, bought by Cheveley Park, and the second Al Hajar made 220,000 guineas, bought by John Ferguson. He won his maiden in September by 7 lengths.

Advertisement

"Warshah had a Dark Angel filly this spring and is in-foal to Gutaifan."

Successful purchaser Tom Goff commented;

"She is a lovely filly, a homebred from a good farm. She's out of a Shamardal mare from a fast family and the dream is she will make up into a Queen Mary filly."

It was a son of Coolmore's first season sire AUSTRALIA that achieved the third highest price on Day 2 when selling to John and Jake Warren for 380,000 guineas. Consigned by Eddie Irwin's Marlhill House Stud, the bay colt is out of the Group 2 placed and Listed winning OASIS DREAM mare THAI HAKU, a full sister to fellow Listed winner ALBARAAH.

Jake Warren who, with his father, won the bidding battle that ensued against both Charlie Gordon-Watson and Jeremy Brummitt commented;

"He is a wonderful individual, he is an absolute belter, out of stakes-winning mare and from a top farm."

"We're big fans of the stallion and have bought a number by him already this year. This horse is for a group of owners and will race in Europe."

Godolphin continued to be active on the second day of Book 2 and purchased the ZEBEDEE colt out of Listed placed FASILYEV mare VARENKA for 330,000 guineas.

Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud bred and consigned the attractive colt who is a half brother to four winners and from the family of New Zealand Group 1 winner STEINBECK.

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10am on Wednesday, October 11th.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding to Win - 2026 Inglis Millennium
The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick this Saturday is for 2YO's that have come via the Inglis Sales and naturally the big stables have deployed some of their best juvenile firepower in pursuit of this big pot of cash.
Best On Breeding
Placed behind subsequent Melbourne Cup heroine Empire Rose in the New Zealand Oaks, Eau D'Etoile (Sir Tristram) became that rarest of broodmares with three Group 1 winners and a Listed stakes-winner to her credit on the way to earning Broodmare Of The Year status and that should have been her crowning achievement.
Nigella Lane Wins Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders
Cambridge mare Nigella Lane was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
A New Benchmark for Edinburgh Stud
An emotional Ian Smith watched on as bidding reached $1 million for Edinburgh Stud’s stunning Exceed And Excel colt out of the Smoke Glacken mare Smokin’ Alice (USA) to set a new benchmark for the stud.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Canterbury
Four heats at Canterbury on Friday were won by juveniles and three were unraced youngsters including a $1million Snitzel colt, while G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki was also sent around following her midfield finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.
Almanzor Sprinter on Track for More Riches
Local trainer David Greene can’t wait to head to Te Rapa on Saturday where he will be chasing $1.125 million in prizemoney with a trio of runners.
St Mark’s Basilica Colt Wins MM Tasmania 2YO Classic by Eight!
Tasmanian 2YO sensation Aristopolos ran as a short priced favourite in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in Hobart on Friday and the son of 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) kept his unbeaten record intact with scintillating victory.
15th G1 Winner for Exceed and Excel
Turning 20 this year, Darley’s champion sire Exceed and Excel has just finished a super successful Magic Millions Sale that saw him with 24 yearlings average $398,542 to be the third leading sire by average and in South Africa on Saturday he posted a 15th Group I winner.
$1.8 Million Exceed and Excel Colt from G1 Winner Platelet
A protracted bidding duel marked the sale of Lot 640, a powerhouse colt by Exceed and Excel from dual Group I winning sprinter Platelet with Hawkes Racing prevailing over a persistent Coolmore.
Exceed And Excel's Athelric Rewarded for Consistency
It was a 1-3 for Godolphin in Saturday’s Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds at Eagle Farm.