Darley stallions dominate Down Under

The Darley stallions were once again to the fore at Morphettville on Monday, with Exceed And Excel and Cape Cross (pictured) siring Black type winners and Shamardal adding a new Group performer to his already impressive record.

Lightly raced two-year-old Exceed And Excel filly Koala Bear became the 22nd Stakes winner for her sire with a gallant victory in the Listed Pewsey Vale Stakes. Finishing third in the race was her paternal half-sister Always Discreet, who gave her sire his 27th southern hemisphere Stakes performer.

Having finished third behind Exceed And Excel filly Hooness at her last start, Shamardal's daughter HappyHippy took an inside path to finish third in the G2 Yallambee Classic. Ridden by Michael Rodd, the regular jockey for Saturday’s G2-winning Shamardal filly Faint Perfume; Happy Hippy, like Small Minds is owned by Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm.

Later on the same card, Capecover (Cape Cross) earned himself a possible tilt at one of Australia’s premier staying contests - the G1 Sydney Cup - after defying top weight to take the G2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville in Australia on 8 March.

Patiently ridden, the seven-year-old was moved to the outside once entering the straight and ran on well to win the 15-and-a-half furlong contest by a length.

This was his fifth Black type win, having previously won the G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and G3 Metropolitan Handicap in addition to two victories at Listed level.