Exceed And Excel Colt Stays Perfect at Randwick

Mark Smith - Saturday July 20

After impressing when winning at Kembla Grange at his career debut on June 27, the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained Excellent Proposal kept his record at a perfect two for two when a fast-finishing winner of Saturday's 2yo handicap over 1400 metres at Randwick.

Settled back midfield, three wide with cover, by Brenton Avdulla, Excellent Proposal still had plenty to do 300 metres out as the front-runner Pixel Perfect was travelling strongly for Kathy O'Hara.

Advertisement


But the strapping son of Exceed And Excel knuckled down to his task to defeat the Snitzel filly Pixel Perfect by a head with three-quarters of a length back to the Your Song colt Frosty Rocks in third. (image Steve Hart )

Brenton Avdulla said the plan to lead went out of the door when Excellent Proposal took a step back at the start.

"It put me worse than midfield so I had to sum the situation up and I ended up getting a nice trail, three wide with cover, off a soft speed and I had my main danger (Mandela) two horses back inside me.

"When I got stuck into him he kept responding, which he has done in every trial and in his race and to his credit he knuckled down late."

Co-trainer Michael Freedman said the chestnut needs a bit of time to mature.

"We will see how he pulls up we might give him a bit of a let up and give him a crack at some of the better races in the spring," Freedman said

"He's very raw and still maturing so he might be one that is better placed in the autumn, we will wait and see."

Purchased by bloodstock agent Bill Mitchell for $200,000 out of the Fernrigg Farm draft at the 2018 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Excellent Proposal (pictured as a yearling ) has an interesting international pedigree.

His dam Procrastination (GB), a Listed stakes placegetter in France, is a daughter of the excellent stallion Pivotal however it is an all Aussie pedigree further back.

Procrastination's dam is the top-class Dilly Dally (Rubiton), a sister to stakes-winner Linga Longa Lucy and a half-sister to Group III winner and Group 1-placed Li Lo Lill (Umatilla). Dilly Dally was a star performer for Leon Macdonald, winning six races including the then Group II AJC TJ Smith Stakes and the Group II MVRC Champagne Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

A sister to stakes-winner Purchased by Darley, Dilly Dally was sent to Europe in 2005 before returning to Australia in 2012. She had three winning foals in Europe and Procrastination was the best of them. She had a further five foals in Australia before being pensioned back in February this year.

Her final foal is a weanling colt by Animal Kingdom (USA).

Procrastination (GB) arrived from Europe in 2013 carrying a foal by Invincible Spirit, which was named Denials and is a 26-start maiden. She has an unraced 3yo Medaglia D'Oro (USA) colt named Defer.

Tragically, Procrastination (GB) died in December 2017 shortly after foaling a Vancouver colt.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.