Britain’s newest racecourse Great Leighs switched on the floodlights for the first time for Thursday’s evening meeting and Especially Special clearly enjoyed her moment in the spotlight, winning at the second time of asking for her owner Lady Davis.
The Exceed And Excel filly, who was bred by Austin Lyons from the Nashwan mare Super Trouper and was a £36,000 ($77,482) breeze-up purchase at Doncaster in April, came home two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of her nearest rival in this five-furlong (1000m) contest and holds an entry for the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on 3 October.
Especially Special is the 18th individual winner from Exceed And Excel’s first northern hemisphere crop, which includes G2 winner Infamous Angel and Royal Ascot winner Flashmans Papers.
Currently in Australia for the southern hemisphere breeding season, where he was crowned Champion freshman sire last season, Exceed And Excel received a further boost this week with the announcement that the recently retired multiple G1-winning sprinter Miss Andretti is to visit him this year.
In Germany, the BBAG two-day sale concluded with a Dubawi yearling fetching the second highest price of Thursday's session. Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock paid €240,000 (A$408,000) for a filly out of a half-sister to Oaks winner Love Divine, Laurentine (Private Account). This is yet another vote of confidence for Dubawi's first yearlings after the young stallion topped Doncaster's St Leger Sale last week.
