Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday April 22

With six stallions already represented by at least one stakes winner, It hardly needs repeating that this is an exceptional group of first season stallions.

We will be backing that number to increase to seven on Saturday when the Xtravagant colt He's Xceptional tackles an even field of juveniles in the Group III Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.

He's Xceptional breaks his maiden at Cranbourne  (image (Ross Holburt/Racing Photos)

Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, He's Xceptional made his career debut in the $500,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley last October. He was never really a factor, finishing tenth of the 15 starters, although he did not shirk his task despite a torrid run to be beaten just over five lengths behind the winner Sneaky Five.

Given a break, He's Xceptional opened his winning account with an impressive two and a half-length score over 1000 metres at Cranbourne on March 5. Two weeks later, he went to Moonee Valley, where he proved no match for the runaway winner Crystal Bound. That daughter of Not A Single Doubt went to Randwick for the $1million Percy Sykes Stakes, where she was edged out by Jamaea.

He's Xceptional had to play second fiddle again to the talented Hunnam at his most recent start over 1200m at Caulfield.

Bred by Seymour Bloodstock, He's Xceptional was purchased by Clarke Bloodstock for $40,000 out of the Newhaven Park Stud draft at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale.

He is the third winner from as many to race out of the 3-time winning Sebring mare She's A Danica, a three-quarter-sister to Group II Moonee Valley Fillies Classic runner-up Tahni Girl (Sebring) and half-sister to stakes-placed Into Orbit (Northern Meteor).

Granddam Rockin Babe (Rock Of Gibraltar) is an unraced three-quarter sister to stakes-winner and successful sire Hidden Dragon, and a half-sister to Group II Furious Stakes winner and Group 1 placed Just Dancing, and Group III winner Tahni Girl, the dam of Group III winner and successful sire Maschino and stakes-winner Kentucky Breeze.

He's Xceptional a $40,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Rockin Babe is a daughter of the Champion 2YO Filly in NZ in 1994-95, Ballroom Babe.

A daughter of Citidancer (USA), Ballroom Babe won eight races up to 1600m in NZ, including three Group 1s, the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes,  Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes and Captain Cook Stakes.

 A full-sister to He's Xceptional was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) or $150,000 at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

After missing in 2019, She's a Danica visited Xtravagant again last spring.

An outstanding sprinter/miler, Xtravagant won the Group1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas by eight and a half lengths in record time and the Group 1 Waikato Sprint by a similar margin.

The son of Pentire (GB) was crowned Champion 3YO Colt in New Zealand and was the highest rate 3YO in New Zealand since the mighty Bonecrusher.

Xtravagant had 87 live foals from the 117 mares he covered at his first season at Newhaven Park Stud in 2017.

Xtravagant

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
First Winner for Xtravagant
Making his second trip to the races, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained He's Xceptional created a huge impression in a 1000m 2yo maiden at Cranbourne of Friday to claim the honour as the first winner for Newhaven Park Stud's Xtravagant.
Coolmore Announce Euro 2025 Fees
Coolmore have announced fees for their 20 strong European sire roster with three new additions City of Troy (Justify), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact)and Henry Longfellow (Dubawi) and a significant increase for Wootton Bassett, who is currently in Australia.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.