Guineas triumph gives Guelph fourth G1

Exceed And Excel filly Guelph further cemented her place as Australia’s premier three-year-old filly with a dominant win in the G1 Thousand Guineas over 1600m at Caulfield, October 16.

Sent out one of the shortest-priced favourites in the race’s history, Guelph was ridden very confidently by Kerrin McEvoy who assumed control of the race from the outset. McEvoy was able to lead at a steady tempo before kicking for home at the top of the straight. New Approach filly May’s Dream and Commands filly Gregers both chased hard over the concluding stages to round out a Darley-sired trifecta but Guelph proved far too good.

It was the star filly’s fourth win at the elite level, becoming the first filly in history to record three G1 victories prior to claiming the Thousand Guineas.

Bred by Darley, Guelph is the second foal of the G1 winner Camarilla, a daughter of the G1 Queensland Derby winner Camarena, a sister to Watchful, the dam of four-time G1 winner and Darley stallion Sepoy. Camarilla unfortunately died last Spring, but her two-year-old colt Ghibellines made his debut earlier this month, finishing a good fourth in the Listed Breeders’ Plate behind Denman colt Law, while the final foal of the mare is a colt by Street Cry.

As well as providing Darley with the Guineas double following Long John's G1 Caulfield Guineas victory four days earlier, Guelph also becomes the first four-time G1 winner for her sire Exceed And Excel, who has also produced triple G1 winners Helmet and Excelebration. Australia’s reigning Champion stallion, Exceed And Excel is the sire of 73 Stakes winners internationally including six G1 winners.

Exceed And Excel is standing the current breeding season at Kelvinside at a fee of $88,000 inc. GST alongside Sepoy ($66,000 inc. GST) and Commands ($55,000 inc. GST), while Helmet is standing at Northwood Park at a fee of $33,000 inc. GST.