Magic Millions 2yo Classic heroine Exhilarates rounded out a profitable 2yo season with a disappointing performance in the Golden Slipper but the high-priced daughter of Snitzel made a successful 3yo debut in Saturday's Group III Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, Exhilarates kept out of trouble to win running away by one and a half lengths from Stratum filly Absolute Flirt with the Godolphin colour-bearers Pin Sec and Lyre third and fourth respectively. (image Steve Hart)
"She showed good quality at two and it's always pleasing to see them come back and do it at three," McEvoy told AAP.
"She's a racehorse, that's what she is.
"The race was put on a little tempo-wise and we were able to produce a nice finish and she looks like having a good spring ahead of her."
Cummings stable representative Sean Keogh said Exhilarates is a tough filly that has come through a busy campaign at two.
"After winning the Magic Millions she had a brief let-up and raced right the way through," Keogh said.
"She made hard work of it today as she gets back in the field and she was wide, but it was a good effort."
Racing and breeding powerhouse Godolphin went shopping at the Magic Millions for the first time in 2018 and they came away with eight yearlings for a spend of $374,375.00.
The equal
highest price at $600,000 was Vinery Stud's Snitzel filly Exhilarates (pictured as a yearling ) who has repaid
that price with interest with a record of 3 wins and 3 seconds from 8 starts
with earnings of $1,466,900.
Exhilarates (pictured as a yearling ) is the first named foal of Samaready whose six wins from 13 starts included the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2012 and Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes the following year.
The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) has a 2yo colt by All Too Hard. After slipping in 2017, Samaready was one of 206 blue-blooded mares to visit Yarraman Park Stud's magnificent I Am Invincible last spring.
Vinery Stud's More Than Ready (USA), who has made a surprise return to the Hunter Valley this season, is the broodmare sire of the two 3yo stakes-winners at Caulfield, Bivouac and Exhilarates.
Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel has his first stakes-winner of the season on the way to defending the title he has won for the last three seasons.
