Exceed And Excel assumed a familiar role as flag-bearer among Darley’s Australian-based stallions with his colt from Oasis Rose fetching $600,000 on day one of the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Wednesday, 10 January.
Exceed And Excel’s seven yearlings realised $1.91 million at an average of $272,851, ensuring he was towards the top of the opening-day sires' table.
Prominent bloodstock agent James Harron made the winning bid for the Exceed And Excel colt he described as “nice and neat, typical of his sire.”
“He has the pedigree, the physique we look for and he looks an early going type,” Harron said.
“His dam is by Oasis Dream who is doing a great job as a broodmare sire and his sire Exceed And Excel is one of only a few horses who can do it in both hemispheres.”
The colt, consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds, is the second foal of his dam and is a full brother to this season’s impressive New Zealand two-year-old Listed winner Al Hasa.
Exceed And Excel also produced the next best result from the Darley-sired contingent, a sister to G2 winner Headwater from the G1-winning mare River Dove.
Consigned by Cressfield, she was knocked down to prolific owners Graham and Linda Huddy for $400,000.
Among Darley’s freshman sires, Shooting To Win recorded the highest price of the day with a filly from the winning Pins mare Raid purchased by West Australian owners Barry and Jan McRostie for $200,000. The filly was consigned by Three Bridges Stud.
Another Shooting To Win yearling, a filly from the Royal Academy mare Miss Fidler, from the family of G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Star Watch went for $120,000 to Prime Thoroughbreds.
The same price was paid for the first offering of fellow Darley freshman Hallowed Crown, this time for a colt from the Testa Rossa mare Miss Lombardi who sold to Triple Crown Syndications for $120,000.
Said Triple Crown’s Chris Ward: “He’s a beautifully bred colt, a real miler type, certainly a Guineas colt for the future.”
Miss Lombardi is a half-sister to G1 South Australian Oaks winner Tully Thunder and the New Zealand Listed winner Sufficient.
The sale continues tomorrow.
