Kuroshio too tough at Flemington

After producing a quick time in a recent barrier trial at Cranbourne, two-year-old Exceed And Excel colt Kuroshio became the 55th Stakes winner for his sire, winning the Superracing Stakes over 5f on 6 October at Flemington, Australia.

The same race that Darley's first-season sire Sepoy won on debut two years prior, the Peter Snowden-trained colt jumped away well from the barriers and sat just behind the leader. While still learning what the racing caper is all about, the colt pulled out from behind the leader to hit the front, fighting strongly down the straight to defeat the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rockford by a long head.

Bred by Darley, Kuroshio is out of the Gone West mare Arctic Drift, a daughter of the multiple G1 winner November Show. Having already produced the G3-winning juvenile Believe’n’succeed, also by Exceed And Excel, Arctic Drift has a yearling colt by Medaglia d'Oro.

Earlier in the day two-year-old Exceed And Excel filly Guelph produced an eye-catching debut performance to finish second in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes over 5f at Randwick, while two races later three-year-old Exceed And Excel colt Knight Exempliar went down by the narrowest margins, finishing second in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes over 6f.

The sire of 55 Stakes winners internationally, Exceed And Excel is the world’s leading sire of two-year-old winners and Stakes horses since his first crop raced in 2008. With four G1 winners to his credit including first-season sire Helmet, who will shuttle to Kildangan Stud during the forthcoming season,  Prix Jacques le Marois winner Excelebration and Nuthorpe Stakes winner Margot Did, Exceed And Excel is currently covering in the southern hemisphere before returning to stand at Dalham Hall Stud.