March 24, 2013Stakes Treble and a Slipper Favourite for Exceed and Excel
Stakes Treble and a Slipper Favourite for Exceed and Excel
Darley stallions were red hot on Saturday and none were hotter than Exceed and Excel after posting a three state stakes treble led by his brilliant daughter Overreach, who left Rosehill racegoers dazzled by her brilliance after scoring a commanding win in the Group II ATC Reisling Stakes.
A homebred for George Altomonte’s Corumbene Stud, the Gai Waterhouse trained Overreach was sent out favourite ahead of brilliant Melbourne filly Villa Verde, who beat her on debut at Caulfield back in the spring.
The pair were expected to fight out the finish, but in the end it was no contest, with Overreach (pictured)hitting top gear for Tommy Berry and cruising clear to win the 1200 metre dash by four and a quarter lengths.
Villa Verde was carrying plenty of condition at her first run back from a spell and will take improvement from the run, but she will certainly need to if she’s going to turn the tables in two weeks time in the Group I ATC Golden Slipper.
“It’s unbelievable. She’s so special this filly,” winning jockey Tommy Berry said.
“She set a nice genuine tempo in front. I didn’t want to go to slow because I think that’s to her advantage.
“I still want to make her find the line because the last furlong she was stargazing a fair bit and I thought I heard something coming, but when I had a look back there was nothing there.
“She had quite a good blow. It surprised me how much she did blow when she pulled up, but I just think she’s a little bit new.”
Overreach has now two of three starts earning $263,300 and is a clear favourite for the Golden Slipper, which her trainer Gai Waterhouse has won four times previously with Ha Ha, Dance Hero, Sebring and Pierro.
“We’ve got a very special filly,” Waterhouse said.
“I’m very lucky to have three chances in the Slipper [Whittington, Sweet Idea and Overreach] and I don’t think there’s much between the three of them, but at present she’s going to be the favourite.”
Overreach is the first winner for talented Snippets mare Bahia, who was also trained by Waterhouse and won four from four in town before breaking down.
She is a half-sister to Group I MRC Blue Diamond winner Reward for Effort, who like Overreach is also by Exceed and Excel.
Bahia produced a full brother to Overreach last spring and is now in foal to Redoute’s Choice.
Overreach was the first of three stakes-winners for Exceed and Excel on Saturday with two year-old filly Camporella taking the Listed WATC Gimcrack Stakes in Perth and four year-old mare Just Discreet winning the Listed SAJC Matrice Stakes at Morphettville.
A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase from the draft of Newhaven Park, the Dan Morton trained Camporella(pictured as a yearling) has won three of five starts including the MM Perth 2YO Classic RL and over $220,000 in prizemoney.
Her stakes-winning dam Really Flying has a yearling filly by Shamardal (USA) that will be offered by Newhaven Park at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 475.
The Phillip Stokes trained Just Discreet scored her first Black Type win when taking the Matrice Stakes and is a well bred mare being a half-sister to Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes winner Maybe Discreet.
Her victory raised Exceed and Excel’s tally of worldwide stakes-winners to 66, the son of Danehill poised to have a good 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with nine entries for buyers to consider. Click here to see them.