Dan Excel outclasses his rivals at Kranji

Shamardal has been enjoying a tremendous year so far and on 18 May his brilliant son Dan Excel stormed to victory in the hugely valuable G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji – less than an hour after Dubawi’s Lucky Nine took the other G1 race on the card, the Krisflyer International Sprint.

Settled in second position on the rail under Tommy Berry, Dan Excel responded superbly when asked to quicken in the home straight and absolutely romped home to win by two lengths.

Also winner of the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin last year, Dan Excel’s earnings now stand at well over £2 million. He has now won on six occasions, including twice at Group level in Ireland where he began his career racing under the name of Dunboyne Express.

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.

Dan Excel is one of 14 Stakes winners for Shamardal this year, who is also sire of G2-winning trio Excellent Result, Ghibellines and Sommerabend, plus 1,000 Guineas third Ihtimal – now one a leading contender for next month’s Oaks at Epsom.

Shamardal stands at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €50,000 October 1st Special Live Foal.