First Stakes winner for Kheleyf

Percolator wins Listed Prix La Fleche; more winners for Kheleyf and Exceed And Excel

Percolator, who was Kheleyf's first ever winner, became his first Stakes winner on Saturday in the Listed Prix La Fleche at Longchamp.

An easy six-length winner at the same venue on her previous start, she was sent off at prohibitive odds to repeat the performance and she did not disappoint, running out an easy two-and-a-half lengths winner. After finishing second on her debut, the Paul Cole-trained filly has now won her last three starts.

Bred by Henry Robinson, Percolator is out of the winning Common Grounds mare Coffee Cream, who has already produced a Darley-sired winner in Mocha Java (Bertolini). She is from the family of smart juvenile and 2,000 Guineas second Even Top.

Percolator’s win capped a good couple of days for Kheleyf after Vegas Baby became his sixth individual winner at Navan on Friday evening. Bred by Mrs Mary Gallagher, Vegas Baby is the first foal out of Gilded Time mare Gift Of Spring, who also has a yearling colt by the same sire, and is from the family of G1 winners Frenchpark and Pearly Shells.

Darley first-season sire, Exceed And Excel, sired his sixth individual winner on Saturday when his daughter, Infamous Angel, sprinted clear in a Maiden at Bath to win easily by two lengths. Appreciating the better ground and drop back in trip to five furlongs, this speedy filly looks more than capable of competing at a much higher level.

Bred by Bricklow Stud, she is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Evangeline, whose second dam is the G2 winner and French 1000 Guineas placed, Libertine.

With Royal Ascot just around the corner, exciting times beckon for Exceed And Excel, who has outstanding chances in a number of Juvenile contests, notably Spin Cycle in the Norfolk Stakes and Excellent Show in the Queen Mary, to name just two.