A new record price for an Exceed And Excel yearling set Wednesday’s second session of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale alight with the Queensland-based Aquis Farm paying $1.7 million for the colt from Written Dash.
In a bidding duel that included some of the biggest names in the business, along with Exceed And Excel’s former trainer Tim Martin, Aquis won out over Coolmore.
The landmark sale was followed late in the session by Lonhro’s leap through the seven-figure barrier at the age of 20 with a member of his 13th crop.
Exceed And Excel has had success in every major racing country and is rated the world’s leading sire of juvenile stakes winners. The $1.7 million colt followed the sale on day one of an Exceed And Excess filly for $1.2 million.
Since going to stud in 2004, Exceed And Excel has sired outstanding racehorses such as G1 Golden Slipper winner Overreach, the champion filly Guelph, Hong Kong stars Mr Stunning and Aber Sky, Earthquake and Darley stallions, Sidestep and Helmet.
At Randwick last Saturday, Exceed And Excel sired the juvenile Stakes double of Microphone in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and Bivouac in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes.
He is the sire of some 1340 winners worldwide, 156 of them at Stakes level and 12 at G1.
Darley’s Head of Sales in Australia, Alastair Pulford, said the colt had been one of the most anticipated of the sale.
“All the major players were on him. You knew as soon as he walked into the ring that the money was going to be there,” Pulford said.
“He was very like Exceed, which is what you want to see, beautifully strong, correct in every way, he’s a great mover.”
The colt was offered by Tyreel Stud whose association with the Darley stallions yielded the Brazen Beau colt, also out of Written Dash, who topped last year’s Inglis Classic Sale.
