Stakes-Win for 2YO Exceed and Excel Colt

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 18
Precocious youngster Al Hasa earned lavish praise from Opie Bosson following a spectacular display at Riccarton.

Al Hasa - Race ImagesThe handsome son of Exceed And Excel turned Saturday's Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (1000m) into a procession and was hard held by the top jockey at the post.

"He's a top class horse, one of the nicest two-year-olds I've sat on for quite a while," Bosson said.

"He's a Karaka Million horse and maybe even the Golden Slipper."

The colt was offered at Karaka earlier this year by Cambridge Stud and Te Akau principal David Ellis went to $625,000 to secure the first foal of the Oasis Dream mare Oasis Rose, who finished runner-up behind Sacred Falls in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in 2012.

Al Hasa was quickly into stride to lead one off the fence and Bosson sat quietly until well into the straight.

"He had a good look around and he's only going to keep improving. Once I gave him a back hander he took off."

They coasted to the line six lengths clear of Thunder Bay, who edged Patsys Lass for second money.

Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Al Hasa had performed well at the trials before he made his debut last month at Ellerslie, where he bucked out of the gates before finishing runner-up.

Exceed and Excel"Things didn't go right at the start and he's improved since then," Richards said. "He worked nicely last Monday morning and travelled down here well.

"We'll take it one step at a time, it was a lovely win and he was really professional today.

"He can have a bit of time at Te Akau Stud now and then we'll get him ready for the Karaka Million."

Al Hasa is the 141st stakes-winner for Darley's champion sire Exceed and Excel.

He has a yearling full brother that is headed for the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and will be offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds as agent as Lot 142.

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