With Exceed And Excel having made such a fantastic start with his first Australian runners, it was no surprise to see his yearlings sell strongly at the British and Irish yearling sales and the freshman sire is equally in demand at the current round of breeze-up sales.
Doncaster staged its one-day sale on Thursday, 10 April with three Exceed And Excel colts among the top five lots, including the day’s top-priced two-year-old out of Victory Peak, who is a daughter of Prix de Diane winner Lypharita. The Yorkshire-based auction house was trading in sterling rather than guineas for the first time and the colt, who will be joining Godolphin, was knocked down for £200,000 (A$423,000).
Another two colts were sold to BBA Ireland and Blandford Bloodstock for £95,000 (A$201,000) and £85,000 (A$180,000) respectively to be the joint-third and fourth most expensive sales of the day. The second top lot was a filly by Tobougg from the family of top juvenile and now young stallion Dark Angel. Bred by Worksop Manor Stud and from the draft of leading breeze-up consignor Willie Browne’s Mocklershill Stables, the filly sold for £180,000 (A$380,000).
Exceed And Excel has sired G3 winners Wilander and Believe'n'succeed and six stakes horses in total to date from his first crop, while Tobougg is the sire of smart G2 winner The Pooka.
