The decision by Darley to up the fee of Exceed and Excel by 50% in 2020 is one that is sure to have breeders researching their facts to see what justifies the increase.
One of the very few Australian bred sires to achieve high level success in both hemispheres, Exceed and Excel has sired 167 stakes-winners worldwide, but for our purposes in the table below we are looking at his Australian results only.
Crop Year (SH) |
Service Fee/ Mares Covered |
Stakes-Winners/ Best Performers |
2005 |
$55,000 / 144 |
8 SW’s G2 Wilander |
2006 |
$55,000 / 157 |
9 SW’s G1 Reward for Effort |
2007 |
$55,000 / 136 |
6 SW’s G3 Kulgrinda |
2008 |
$55,000 / 183 |
11 SW’s G1 Helmet |
2009 |
$110,000 /148 |
11 SW’s G1 Flamberge, Amber Sky |
2010 |
$110,000 / 120 |
11SW’s G1 Guelph, Overreach |
2011 |
$66,000 / 115 |
5SW’s G1 Earthquake |
2012 |
$66,000 / 133 |
10SW’s G1 Mr Stunning |
2013 |
$66,000 / 116 |
4SW’s G2 Calliope |
2014 |
$88,000 / 150 |
7 SW’s G3 Manicure |
2015 |
$110,000 / 132 |
7 SW’s G2 Nafaayes (South Africa) |
2016 |
$110,000 / 137 |
6SW’s G1 Bivouac, Exceedance, Microphone |
2017 |
$110,000 / 106 |
1 SW G3 Minhaaj |
2018 |
$110,000 / 132 |
Yearlings |
2019 |
$82,500 / 76 |
Foals |
2020 |
$88,000 / 138 |
Yet to be born |
His current crop of three year-olds contains three Group I winners, which is the most he has ever produced in one crop since his career began.
Those three colts Bivouac , Exceedance and Microphone, probably hold the fate of the future of his sireline in their hands as until now as a sire of sires, Exceed and Excel has only had moderate success through reliable winner getter Reward for Effort and sporadic success with Helmet, the sire of Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow.
Also Sidestep who was Champion First Season Sire last year thanks largely to his Golden Slipper winning daughter Kiamichi.
Looking at the facts and figures there is no reason to think there are still not great things to come from Exceed and Excel even as he turns 20 this year.