Australia’s leading second-crop sire Exceed And Excel continued to prove his desirability to a European audience when his offspring were among the top prices at Doncaster’s breeze-up sale.
The second highest price of the sale was paid for a colt out of the Petardia mare Georgianna who was knocked down to trainer Bryan Smart for £92,000. Exceed And Excel had the top-priced filly of the day, a daughter of two-year-old winner Basbousate Nadia (Wolfhound), who was the fifth bestseller overall at £60,000. Just beneath her in the top lots was a son of last year’s leading first-season sire Kheleyf. Out of Victoria Lodge, the Malcolm Bastard-consigned colt sold for £58,000.
Joining Kheleyf and Exceed And Excel with first three-year-olds this year is Refuse To Bend (pictured) and on Thursday came the news that Godolphin have added his son Liberation to the Derby field at the second entry stage. Bred by Epona Bloodstock Ltd, Liberation won twice over seven furlongs last season and was only a length and a head behind subsequent Racing Post Trophy winner and current Derby favourite Crowded House when fourth in the Tattersalls Million. The form of that race was exceptionally strong with the winner, Donativum, by Cadeaux Genereux, going on to win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Liberation is also entered for the 2000 Guineas on 2 May along with his paternal half-brother Courageous. Looking ahead to this coming weekend, the Listed Easter Stakes marks the return of Kheleyf's unbeaten two-year-old Captain Ramius. Following the move of his former trainer Mark Wallace to Australia, the Clodagh McStay-owned colt, who was bred by P G Lyons, is now with Simon Callaghan.
