With the ‘electrifying sprinter’ Exceedance retiring to Vinery Stud, it was Peter Orton who stated “he has nothing left to prove, having won the colts’ grand-final in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.”
“He’s a supreme athlete and a really exciting addition to our roster going forward. Quite apart from the uncertainty of racing, the time was right when discussing retirement with trainers Team Hawkes.”
Exceedance used his blistering finish to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes of 1200m at Flemington, in a slick 1-09.76sec on a Soft 7 track, to defeat Newmarket winner Bivouac by a half-length.
“All credit to the horse, he looked after me once things went wrong early,” said winning jockey Dwyane Dunn. “He travelled up nicely and I knew what was under the bonnet.”
“He’s got a great attitude and can really accelerate. He’s from a high-class family – I rode his mother to win a stakes race in Adelaide.”
Exceedance went into the Coolmore following to highly credible third’s in the Golden Rose and Run to The Rose at Rosehill Gardens, when running quick closing sectionals in failing to catch the race winner.
On his first 3yo start Exceedance won first-up following a 13 week spell in San Domenico Stakes of 1100m at Rosehill Gardens on a Heavy 9 rated track.
On tracking the leaders into the straight, jockey Tommy Berry had Exceedance gaining the lead at the 150m mark before scoring an impressive fast finishing 2 length defeat of odds-on favourite Bivouac.
Winning on debut as a 2yo at Wyong over 1100m, the race caller announced “Exceedance is rocketing home, look at this, what a win on debut, he came from a minute back!”
Second-up when failing to catch Arrowfield 3YO Sprint winner Splintex in a nose x nose third over 1100m at Rosehill, jockey Tommy Berry stated “he’s one of the nicest young horses I’ve ever ridden.”
A $180,000 buy by Vinery Stud at the 2018 Australia Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Exceedance was consigned by Newgate Farm, and is by Champion Sire Exceed and Excel who was raised at Vinery.
“I’m a big fan of the sire line and Exceedance caught our eye with his presence and attitude as a yearling,” recalled Peter Orton, the Vinery General Manager.
“He looked a beautiful mover with a great eye and plenty of scope to keep developing,” said Peter Orton, with Exceedance being from the stakes wining Thorn Park mare Bonnie Mac, who is half-sister to Group 3 winners Upham and Intimate Moment and stakes winner Gold Rum.
Viner Stud continued to have an outstanding 2019-20 season with the ‘pure sprinter’ Headwater being equal Australian First Season Sire by Winners with 13 winners, equal to the ill-fated Spill The Beans.
Headwater had Wisdom of Water win the Ken Russell Memorial Classic and fourth in Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the 1000m winner By Water My Friend was placed third in the Dalrello Stakes, plus the metropolitan winners Mileva, Hydro Star, Aquagirl and Gunnamatta.
The ‘undefeated Group 1 Juvenile’ Press Statement also had a successful first season in siring five winners including the Sydney winners Spokesman with 2 wins, Giovanna Run and Equation.
Again his yearlings prove popular with his Hold Me Closer colt selling for $230,000 to Robbie Griffiths Racing and his Giovanna Bella colt going to Asian Bloodstock for $190,000.
All Too Hard had an outstand 2019-20 with Alligator Blood winning the Australian Guineas and being a disqualified winner of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. A ‘nose’ second in the Caulfield Guineas, he also won the CS Hayes Stakes, Vo Rogue 3YO Plate and Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
In siring 110 winners last season All Too Hard had Dawn Dawn win the Guy Walter Stakes, while Cuba, Hard Rock Girl, Hard Landing and Behemoth were his stakes winners.
The ‘powerhouse’ Star Turn had his first yearling sell this year, with his Dukemore colt selling for $550,000 to Hawkes Racing and his Fast’n’Witty colt for $300,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Also last season Casino Prince had Sweet Deal win the Triscay Stakes and Tibbie Stakes plus second in the Guy Walter Stakes, while Pluck had Mongolian Wolf as his principal performer.
Although ‘age’ has stopped More Than Ready from returning to Vinery Stud this season, he had Global Quest win the Breeders Plate and second in the Silver Slipper Stakes and Canonbury Stakes last season.
In the US this year Rushing Fall won the Jenny Whiley Stakes at Keeneland, while his Travers Stakes and Belmont Derby winning son Catholic Boy retired to Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.