We recently highlighted the growing influence of Exceed And Excel, particularly as a broodmare sire, which was further emphasised in Europe on the weekend with the win of Ten Sovereigns in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket and Star Terms in Sunday's Listed Prix de Thiberville at Longchamp.
It was the second Group 1 for Ten Sovereigns who is out of the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel mare Seeking Solace who was a winner over 2000m at Saint-Cloud and was runner-up in the Listed Prix de la Seine at Longchamp.
Seeking Solace has further Australian connections as her dam Flamelet (Theatrical) is a stakes-placed half-sister to Firemaid (USA) (Machiavellian) who is the dam of Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate heroine Shamal Wind.
A daughter of Dubawi, Shamal Wind was retired after her unplaced run in the 2015 Group 1 King's Stand Stakes over 1000m at Royal Ascot.
Before returning home, she was covered by Sea The Stars and the result of that mating is a colt named The Driller who was purchased by Godolphin for $325,000 out of the Newgate Farm consignment at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
We covered Ten Sovereigns extensively following is July Cup triumph, but it would be fair to say there would be fewer happier breeder's than those that supported his sire No Nay Never (IRE) in his first two Australian seasons at a fee of $11,000.
Sea The Stars features again as the sire of Star Terms the winner of Sunday's Listed Prix de Thiberville at Longchamp.
A half-sister to the stakes-winning New Approach filly Fresh Terms, Star Terms is out of the top-class Exceed And Excel mare Best Terms who was honoured as the Champion 2YO filly in England in 2011 following wins in the Group II Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group II Lowther Stakes at York.
