Darley colts Sepoy and Helmet have towered over the three year-old division this season and their domination is set to continue for the remainder of the spring carnival.

Helmet (3c Exceed And Excel – Accessories by Singspiel) led from barrier-to-box to score an heroic victory the G1 Caulfield Guineas from Manawanui on Saturday.

The margin was only a half-neck but there were no excuses for the beaten brigade.  “The amount of improvement he’s made in the last month is unbelievable,” trainer Peter Snowden said.  “Sepoy’s the best colt in Australia and Helmet is a close second.”

Helmet broke the Caulfield Guineas record of 1:35.36s held by Helenus since 2002.  Bookmakers immediately promoted him to a $3.50 favourite for the Cox Plate on October 22.

He had won the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce & Champagne Stakes during the autumn carnival despite being a handful for Snowden and jockey Kerrin McEvoy.  To their credit, the Darley team worked overtime on the colt and he has matured into the genuine article this season.

Helmet is a younger half-brother to G3 Colin Hayes Stakes winner Bullbars (Elusive Quality).  Sheikh Mohammed sent their British bred dam Accessories to Australia in June 2006.  She has a 2yo colt named Epaulette (Commands) and a yearling filly by Street Cry.

His sire Exceed And Excel has enjoyed a tremendous year world-wide with G1 winners the calibre of Excelebration (Prix du Moulin at Longchamp) and Margot Did (Nunthorpe Stakes at York).

Overall, Exceed And Excel has sired 17 stakes winners in 2011.  He stands at Darley Kelvinside for a $66,000 (inc. gst) service fee.