Stakes-Win for 2YO Exceed and Excel Colt

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 18
Precocious youngster Al Hasa earned lavish praise from Opie Bosson following a spectacular display at Riccarton.

Al Hasa - Race ImagesThe handsome son of Exceed And Excel turned Saturday's Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (1000m) into a procession and was hard held by the top jockey at the post.

"He's a top class horse, one of the nicest two-year-olds I've sat on for quite a while," Bosson said.

"He's a Karaka Million horse and maybe even the Golden Slipper."

The colt was offered at Karaka earlier this year by Cambridge Stud and Te Akau principal David Ellis went to $625,000 to secure the first foal of the Oasis Dream mare Oasis Rose, who finished runner-up behind Sacred Falls in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in 2012.

Al Hasa was quickly into stride to lead one off the fence and Bosson sat quietly until well into the straight.

"He had a good look around and he's only going to keep improving. Once I gave him a back hander he took off."

They coasted to the line six lengths clear of Thunder Bay, who edged Patsys Lass for second money.

Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Al Hasa had performed well at the trials before he made his debut last month at Ellerslie, where he bucked out of the gates before finishing runner-up.

Exceed and Excel"Things didn't go right at the start and he's improved since then," Richards said. "He worked nicely last Monday morning and travelled down here well.

"We'll take it one step at a time, it was a lovely win and he was really professional today.

"He can have a bit of time at Te Akau Stud now and then we'll get him ready for the Karaka Million."

Al Hasa is the 141st stakes-winner for Darley's champion sire Exceed and Excel.

He has a yearling full brother that is headed for the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and will be offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds as agent as Lot 142.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.