Time for Excelebration – again

Excelebration notched his second victory at the highest level on Sunday when landing France’s most prestigious mile contest, the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Now trained by Aidan O’Brien, having been purchased as a stallion prospect last year by Coolmore, the four-year-old son of Exceed And Excel won last year’s G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp when under the care of Marco Botti and has been a model of consistency throughout a superb career.

In 13 starts, he has won seven races, and has finished runner-up four times to the world’s best racehorse, Frankel. Excelebration’s other victories include the G3 Gladness Stakes on his first start in 2012, the German 2,000 Guineas, which he won by seven lengths, and the G2 Hungerford Stakes.

Out of the Indian Ridge mare Sun Shower, Excelebration was bred in Ireland by Owenstown Stud. He is one of four individual Group One winners for Exceed And Excel alongside new Darley sire Helmet, Reward For Effort and Margot Did, while his Group scorers this season include G2 Richmond Stakes winner Heavy Metal and Bungle Inthejungle, who led home his paternal half-brother Morawij in the G3 Molecomb Stakes.