Exceed And Excel's Isaurian Earns Himself a Trip to the Gold Coast

Mark Smith - Saturday December 21

Godolphin’s Exceed And Excel gelding Isaurian has an unblemished first up record and he made it five from five with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Listed Magic Millions Falvelon Quality at Eagle Farm and earning himself a wild card entry into the Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast on January 11.

With Josh Parr stuck in Sydney after his flight was cancelled, Robbie Fradd was a last-minute replacement on Isaurian and he made the most of it guiding the 5yo gelding to a long-neck win from Scallopini (Snitzel) with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Fiery Heights (Hidden Dragon) in third.

The James Cummings-trained gelding advances his record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $387,565.

"Isaurian won the Chief De Beers Stakes in the winter but it is good to go get another black-type race. He is a very good fresh horse but this is his first fresh win at 1200m and his first win at 1200m," Godolphin representative Nacim Dilmi told AAP.Exceed And Excel has a big entry for the Magic Millions

"When there was a lot of pace early I was very happy. We will keep him on the fresh side for the Magic Millions in three weeks time."

A full brother to Group III winning juvenile Ottoman and a half-brother to the Listed ATC Dulcify Hcp runner-up Nemrud (Reset), Isaurian is out of the Elusive Quality (USA) mare Byzantine, a half-sister to 5-time Group 1 winner Mummify.

Purchased by Darley for $160,000 out of the Redman Park draft 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Byzantine is a sister to Shabtis who is the dam of the Group III MVRC Champagne Stakes winner Take Pride who is by Exceed And Excel's son Reward For Effort.

Byzantine has not had a live foal in five seasons. She missed to Exceed And Excel last spring.

Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel has a large entry of 31 catalogued for the Magic Millions.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Magic Millions Falvelon Qlty LR 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(3) Time: 1:08.76
1
Isaurian
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Byzantine (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: R Fradd 56
2
0.4
Scallopini
- 5g Snitzel (AUS) x Rose Of Mulan (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Steven O'Dea Rdr: Boris Thornton 54.5
3
2.7
Fiery Heights
- 7g Hidden Dragon (AUS) x Mountain Of Love (AUS) (Monashee Mountain (USA))
Tnr: B J Lockwood Rdr: B N Stewart 56
4
5.1
Niccanova
- 6g Nicconi (AUS) x Dananova (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: S P Tregea Rdr: James Orman 59
5
6.1
Intuition
- 5g Street Cry (IRE) x Radar (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Ryan Maloney 55.5
6
6.9
Spurcraft
- 6g Jet Spur (AUS) x Carnivale Queen (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: C J White Rdr: Leslie Tilley 56.5
7
7.6
Natch
- 6g Thorn Park (AUS) x Naturally (IRE) (Mtoto (GB))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Jake Bayliss 54
8
7.7
Badajoz
- 7g Commands (AUS) x Jerezana (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: L V Cassidy 56.5
9
8.0
Sandbar
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Tallow (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: C Reith 55
10
8.1
Freddie Fox Trot
- 5g Foxwedge (AUS) x Tamieka (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
11
8.9
Tactical Advantage
- 6g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Above Perfection (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Mallyon 60.5
More Reading...
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
$1.8 Million Exceed and Excel Colt from G1 Winner Platelet
A protracted bidding duel marked the sale of Lot 640, a powerhouse colt by Exceed and Excel from dual Group I winning sprinter Platelet with Hawkes Racing prevailing over a persistent Coolmore.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
A New Benchmark for Edinburgh Stud
An emotional Ian Smith watched on as bidding reached $1 million for Edinburgh Stud’s stunning Exceed And Excel colt out of the Smoke Glacken mare Smokin’ Alice (USA) to set a new benchmark for the stud.
15th G1 Winner for Exceed and Excel
Turning 20 this year, Darley’s champion sire Exceed and Excel has just finished a super successful Magic Millions Sale that saw him with 24 yearlings average $398,542 to be the third leading sire by average and in South Africa on Saturday he posted a 15th Group I winner.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Exceed And Excel's Athelric Rewarded for Consistency
It was a 1-3 for Godolphin in Saturday’s Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds at Eagle Farm.