Champions Mile for Dan Excel

Dan Excel (Shamardal), who raced under the name Dunboyne Express in his native Ireland, recorded his biggest career success on 5 May when winning the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin. Always well placed from the start on the rails in third, he challenged the leader at the top of the straight and responded gamely for a narrow victory. This was his first career victory in Hong Kong after a series of credible efforts, but he was a very good juvenile when trained Kevin Prendergast, winning the G3 Anglesey Stakes by eight lengths.

Bred by John Connaughton, he is out of the Polish Precedent mare Love Excelling, a half-sister to Oaks heroine Love Divine, who herself is the dam of St Leger winner Sixties Icon. Love Excelling also has a two-year-old colt by Teofilo named Mihany (who sold for 600,000Gns as a yearling and is in training with John Gosden), a yearling full-sister to Dan Excel and is due to foal to Raven's Pass this season.

Dan Excel becomes Shamardal's 10th G1 winner and his second of 2013 after Maybe Discreet's Oaks triumph in Australia. He is one of 18 Stakes performers for his sire this year, with others including the Irish-bred Puissance de Lune, a multiple Group winner in Australia and currently favourite for the Melbourne Cup. Shamardal stands in 2013 for €50,000 Oct 1st SLF at Kildangan Stud alongside his G1-winning juvenile son Casamento, who is standing for the first time this season at a fee of €5,000.