Dubai Destination, who made such a promising start with his first European crop, which included G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun, is off the mark in Australia with an impressive five-furlong winner Dubai To Sydney at Royal Randwick during Saturday’s prestigious Australia Day programme.
The vibes had been extremely positive ahead of the colt’s debut and with some justification as he battled gamely, overcoming noticeable greenness to fend off a late challenge from the runner-up.
He is the first foal of the Quest For Fame mare Sydney’s Quest, a dual winner at two and half-sister to G1 Galaxy Stakes winner Charge Forward (Red Ransom).
At Caulfield, Believe ‘N’ Succeed became the latest Exceed And Excel juvenile to gain black type with third in the Listed Blue Diamond Prelude, again on her first start. She is out of the American-bred mare Arctic Drift, by Gone West. The following day at Ballarat, Exceed And Excel notched his fourth individual winner with the impressive eight-length victory of Wilander (pictured). Exceed And Excel’s first-crop runners in Australia include G3 winner Exceedingly Good and Listed winner Sugar Babe.
He may have only shuttled to Australia for one season but Singspiel certainly left a lasting impression on the local scene, siring a number of Stakes winners inlcuding G1-winning sprinter Rewaaya. The latest of his small, sole crop to gain Stakes honours was Colonel Parker, who won the Listed Moorilla Stakes in Tasmania on Sunday, 27 January.
Dubai Destination, Exceed And Excel and Singspiel stand at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. For further information, please call our nominations team on +44 (0)1638 730070
