Vinery Stud stallion Exceedance sired his 10th first-crop winner when Cristal Clear led home a quinella for trainers Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald at Goulburn on Sunday.
Cristal Clear looked the part in the parade ring and that was reflected in the betting ring as a firming $1.26 favourite for the Goulburn Express Freight Maiden Hcp (1600m). He faced the breeze but kept lifting for Jason Collett to hold out stablemate Blazing Sword (Too Darn Hot).
“He has a casual attitude and has been doing well at home after a first-up second at Wyong last month,” stable rep Megan O’Leary said. “He’s green and still learning but picked up under pressure for Jason.”
Exceedance sired a winning double with Dance To The Boom and Mine Kart Carnage last weekend and his divisional leader Dublin Down will be ready to ramp it up in the VRC Poseidon Stakes (LR, 1100m) at Flemington on September 14.
Cristal Clear (3c Exceedance – Cristal Eyes by All Too Hard) was purchased by Group One Thoroughbreds for $50,000 from Noorilim Park at the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale. He’s a younger half-brother to recent Gosford maiden winner Hydrometer (Headwater) and his So You Think (NZ) half-sister was a $120,000 buy for Danny O’Brien at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March.
Cristal Eyes is owned by Vinery partner Alan Green (Echo Beach Bloodstock) and was Group 3-placed in the 2018 TBV Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. She is a three-quarter sister to All Too Hard’s Group 2 Sandown Guineas winner Villermont. Second dam Champagne Run (More Than Ready) is a Keeneland-winning daughter of Vinery’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger (Dehere).
Meanwhile, Dublin Down is pleasing Tony and Calvin McEvoy ahead of a much-anticipated Melbourne prep following Group 3 juvenile victories in the VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) and ATC Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) last season.
The Ballarat-based trainers sent him down for a spin around Moonee Valley last Tuesday morning. “We will start him off in the Poseidon Stakes and let him tell us where he wants to go in the spring,” Tony McEvoy said “He’s a pretty good colt and even though he’s scopey like a miler, I think we will keep him to shorter distances than 1600m.”
Dublin Down is unbeaten down the Flemington straight and will likely be set to emulate Exceedance in the VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on November 2.
Exceedance (Exceed And Excel) stands for an unchanged $33,000 (inc GST) service fee at Vinery this season with payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam, Harry, McKoy or Peter on (02) 6543 8333.