Exceedance Colt Dublin Down Goes Coast to Coast in Pago Pago - Sister at Inglis Easter

Mark Smith - Saturday March 16

Never a factor in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes when coming off a 16-week break, the Exceedance colt Dublin Down earned the final golden ticket to the Golden Slipper when leading at every call in Saturday’s $250,000 Group II Tab Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

No catching Dublin Down (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Tim Clark for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Dublin Down defeated the I Am Invincible colt Anode by a long-neck.

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In a leader-dominated race, the Pierata colt Coleman, another to disappoint in the Blue Diamond, made up plenty of ground to finish one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

The winner of the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Caulfield last November, Dublin Down advances his record to two wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $276,590.

Clark said he did not have any preconceived plans.  

“I didn’t plan to go out there with any intentions to lead, but I just allowed him to begin and see if I could be in the first five or six, and he travelled so sweetly throughout,” Clark said.

Golden Slipper next? (image Steve Hart)

“It was a surprise that he landed there, but I felt that he controlled himself well, and when I asked him to build, he gave a nice response.”

“He quickened up nicely, and he was probably just feeling the effects for the last little bit. But it was a good tough effort.”

Clark has a booking for Straight Charge in the Golden Slipper but feels Dublin Down has earned a chance.

“He’s put his hand up today and said that he’s in good form. Hopefully, the Slipper winner is at home in the box next to Storm Boy; that’s where Straight Charge is.”

Dublin Down was a $370,000 Magic Millions purchase from Edinburgh Park for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency.

He was the highest-priced yearling by his sire at Magic Millions and the highest-priced colt by his sire at all sales in 2023.

Bred by Ian Smith, Dublin Down is the best of two winners from as many to race for the stakes-winning O’Reilly mare Dublin Lass, who was sold as part of the Edinburgh Park Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Sale along with her weanling filly by Dublin Down’s sire Exceedance.

Dublin Down a $370,000 Magic Millions yearling

Dublin Lass was an $85,000 purchase for Kingstar Farm. She produced a colt by Glenfiddich in September, while Kitchwin Hills bought the sister to Dublin Down for $100,000 and is in the Alma Vale/Kitchwin Hills Partnership consignment at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale (lot 499).

Vinery Stud’s Coolmore Stud Stakes hero Exceednace has made a very encouraging start to his start career with three winners, led by Dublin Down and the Sandown winner, Flyer.

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Race Result - TAB Pago Pago Stakes Gr3 1200m

Rosehill Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:10.55
1
Dublin Down
- 2c Exceedance (AUS) x Dublin Lass (AUS) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
Exceedance
2
0.5
Anode
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Mysterious Light (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 55.5
I Am Invincible
3
2.1
Coleman
- 2c Pierata (AUS) x Sboog (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55.5
4
2.6
Gatsby's
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Miss Charming (USA) (Forestry (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
5
4.9
King Of Roseau
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Dominica (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tom Sherry 55.5
6
5.4
Johnny The Kid
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x I Got Chills (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 55.5
7
6.5
Parkour
- 2c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Trestrail (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55.5
8
7.5
Duvana
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Stay With Me (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
9
8.2
The Three Hundred
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sassy 'n' Smart (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: S Clipperton 55.5
10
9.5
Agenda Setter
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Secret Agenda (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Parr 55.5
11
28.6
Glorious Moments
- 2c Brutal (NZ) x Sretan (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: J & G Lee Rdr: Reece Jones 55.5
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