Exceed And Excel Colt Makes Winning Debut in Canonbury Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 2

Sent off an odds-on favourite off the back of a couple of barrier trial wins, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained McLaren looked the consummate professional on debut in Saturday's Group III Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

McLarenJames McDonald settled the son of Exceed And Excel just off the pace set by Exceed The Star before taking control at the 300 metres to safely hold the determined finish of the $750,000 Redoute's Choice colt Spring Loaded by three-quarters of a length with the Wandjina colt Deep Chill one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

"It's good to get it done but there's a lot of room for improvement there," Peter Snowden said.

"What I did like he began well and when it looked like he might start to go too keenly he came back off. I'm glad James gave him the opportunity to do that and he did it well, which is a big plus.

"He's only a young horse having his first start, you can't do any more than win and he did that well today.

"What we do now depends on the horse. We will see how he comes through the run.

"He's not a gross horse and he might need a bit more of this to get him to settle but he's an exciting colt. What he does at home is really, really good. I've only let him go once and that was enough for me to see what he can do.

Snowden praised McLaren's (image Stave Hart) powerful army of owners that includes Newgate Farm, China Horse Club and Winstar Farm.

Advertisement

"It's a big tick for them too. They put a lot into it. If you can get one that's all you need. If it's the right one, they are home," Snowden concluded.

A $380,000 purchase by China Horse Club/Newgate/Winstar out of the Baramul Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, McLaren is a half-brother to the Group III Maribyrnong Plate runner Cao Cao (Fastnet Rock).

His dam Serenada, a 4-time winning daughter of Encosta de Lago, is a half-sister to Group II Caulfield Sprint winner and Group 1 WRC Telegraph Handicap runner-up First Command), as well as the star Hong Kong Sprinter One World (Danehill Dancer) a Group II winner and multiple Group 1, placed.

Serenada's dam River Serenade (Hurricane Sky) is a sister to the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate heroine River Dove who is the dam of Group II Silver Slipper Stakes winner and young Vinery stallion Headwater, who like McLaren is a son of Exceed And Excel.

Serenada had a Snitzel filly last spring after her colt foal by that stallion had died after birth the previous year. She was bred back to Snitzel last year.

McLaren becomes the 154th stakes-winner for Darley Stud's trailblazing reverse shuttler Exceed And Excel who covered 76 mares last spring at a fee of $82,500.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
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.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
$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.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 8
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.