Stakes double for Exceed And Excel

A winner of this race 12 months prior when at Listed level, the upgraded G3 The 2014 Darley Crown went the way of Exceed And Excel mare Aerobatics, giving the five-year-old her sixth career win and third at stakes level.

Settling just behind the leading duo in the run, as they rounded the home turn jockey Christian Reith pulled the mare into clear running where she extended, pulling away to win the race by a length.

Bred by Darley, Aerobatics is one of four Stakes performers from the Rahy mare Grilse, a half-sister to Stakes winners Porte Bonheur, Slip Stream and Banafsajee. A three-quarter-sister to the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Alverta, the Joint Champion Older Female Sprinter in Great Britain in 2010, as well as to the dual the Singapore-G3 winner Revolte, Aerobatics’ dam is currently in foal to Street Cry.

A few races later, Reparations became the 83rd Stakes winner for his sire, travelling wide throughout to win the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup over 1440m at Caulfield.

Bred by Darley, Reparations is out of the Listed-winning Red Ransom mare Hold To Ransom. A half-brother to the G3-winning, G1 placed Retrieve, Reparation’s pedigree also includes Dubawi’s G1 winner Prince Bishop.

As the sire of 83 Stakes winners including nine G1 winners, Exceed And Excel will stand the forthcoming breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $110,000 (inc. GST), while his triple G1-winning son Helmet ($33,000 (inc. GST)) will stand alongside new recruit Kuroshio ($8,800 (inc. GST)), a winner of the G2 McEwen Stakes, at Darley's Victorian property Northwood Park.