Vinery Stud freshman Exceedance took the first step to emulating his own sire Exceed And Excel when Dublin Down won the VRC Maribyrnong Plate (Gr.3, 1000m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Exceed And Excel (Danehill) was Australia’s Champion freshman in 2007-08 after receiving a perfect start to his career courtesy of Exceedingly Good in that season’s Maribyrnong Plate for trainer Lee Freedman.

Dublin Down (2c Exceedance – Dublin Lass by O’Reilly) looked every inch a professional leading home a black-type quinella for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.  He settled into a rhythm with cover and finished strongly to defeat stablemate Blue Stratum (Blue Point) by a head on Melbourne Cup Day.

“He’s a quality colt, a beautiful mover and we love him,” Calvin McEvoy said.  “He handled the big occasion beautifully and was just too smart.  He’s a really good colt and will develop into a Guineas horse in twelve months.”

Winning jockey Zac Purton reported he was helped by race fitness and some give in the track.  “He relaxed and came into it at the right time.  He did get a little bit lost on his own but got down and did the job.”

Dublin Down was bred and sold by Edinburgh Park’s Ian Smith for $370,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.  That made him the top-priced Exceedance at this year’s majors.

“Good judges like Damon Gabbedy reckoned he was one of the nicest Exceedance colts on the grounds,” Smith said back in January.  “Exceedance looks the real deal.  He’s a son of Exceed And Excel and I booked in some quality mares after seeing him in the flesh at Vinery.”

Vinery Stud bloodstock manager Adam White said it was fitting Exceedance should open his stud account in a Group race at Flemington.  He was a Group 1 winner down the famed straight-course in the 2019 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and so was Exceed And Excel in the 2004 Newmarket Hcp (1200m).

“Dublin Down was a lovely individual at the sales and he’s been well-educated and well-primed by the McEvoys,” White told ANZ Bloodstock News.  “He’s a colt that we have followed from the start.  Ian rang me when he was born and said he was such a lovely colt.  We’ve been speaking to quite a few trainers and there’s more by Exceedance ready to step out in the not too distant future.”

Dublin Down is part-owned by a syndicate that includes Ray Pawsey and Robyn Parker.  They also raced Sunlight with McEvoy-Mitchell Racing and she won the VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes a year before Exceedance.  His dam Dublin Lass was a Sydney and Brisbane Stakes winner for Snowden Racing and she has a yearling filly by Exceedance at Kitchwin Hills.

Exceedance stands at Vinery Stud for a $33,000 (inc GST) service fee payable on a live foal.  For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).