Helmet Rules Randwick
Counting Australian champion juveniles such as Meurice, Dance Hero, Hasna, Viscount, Victory Vein and Assertive Lad amongst its honour roll, Helmet (Exceed And Excel) stamped himself as a contender for this year's title with his win today.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Helmet jumped cleanly and dictated terms in front, before kicking away in the straight to win. The colt almost lost the race in the stewards room after veering out sharply at the 200 metre mark, but displayed incredible raw ability to still defeat his rivals by one-and-a-half lengths.
The win gives champion trainer Peter Snowden successive wins in the race with Commands colt Skilled taking out the race last year. Furthermore, Snowden has now trained the winner of all four juvenile G1 races this season.
Bred by Darley Australia, Helmet is a half-brother to Elusive Quality's G3 winner Bullbars. He is from the Singspiel mare Accessories, in turn a half-sister to G2 winner Pozarica. Accessories has a yearling colt by Commands named Epaulettes, and a filly weanling by Street Cry.
Exceed And Excel is having a stellar season with his juveniles, and is currently leading sire by winners, with 10 individual winners, four of whom have won Stakes races. Exciting times lay ahead this spring with upcoming season two-year-olds out of G1 winners such as Camarilla and Grand Archway.
Exceed And Exel will stand the 2011 season at Kelvinside at $66,000 (inc. GST) alongside Street Cry at $110,000 (inc. GST) and Commands $66,000 (inc. GST).