Unbeaten colt Performer gave his G1 Golden Slipper Stakes prospects another boost, along with those of his sire Exceed And Excel, with a hard-fought victory in the G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill on 3 February.
Performer survived a tight finish to score by a nose from Stratosphere in a run that is expected to vastly improve him.
After winning in Listed company on debut last spring, Performer became the nominal favourite for the Golden Slipper, the world’s richest two-year-old race, and confirmed his place among the leading chances with his latest win.
Exceed And Excel sired the 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach and also has second placings in the race to his credit thanks to the Godolphin pair Earthquake and Sidestep.
Performer is from the Snippets mare Gavroche and is a half-brother to the G1 Galaxy winner Bel Sprinter from a family that also includes the Australian G1 and multiple French Stakes winner Always Aloof.
Performer’s Rosehill victory completed an Australasian Stakes double on the day for Exceed And Excel whose New Zealand-bred filly Excelleration scored her third win on end in the Listed Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui.
Excelleration conceded the leaders a long start and was forced to the outside fence turning for home but still had something to spare on the line, easily accounting for Global Thinking.
Performer and Excelleration are among 143 Stakes winners for Exceed And Excel.
