Vinery Stud’s first-season sire, Exceedance, got on the winner’s board in fine style on Tuesday. The Coolmore Stud S. victor was represented by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Dublin Down in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate, and despite the Champion Jockey Zac Purton taking the mount, the 2-year-colt was sent out as an outsider in the small field.
All the rage centred around Dublin Down’s stablemate, Blue Stratum and the Godolphin runner, Admitted (Brazen Beau). However, Dublin Down had something those two did not – straight experience, and while the rest looked lost down the vast Flemington straight, Dublin Down went straight as an arrow.
Finishing second was Blue Stratum, while Odinson (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) finished strongly to run third.
“That was exciting and a great job to all the team. It’s a job to get these 2-year-olds up and going and to handle an occasion like today (Tuesday, Melbourne Cup Day),” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy told Racing.com after training the quinella.
“Dublin Down had the experience and was just too smart. It’s exciting to see results like winning the Maribyrnong Plate with horses we’ve bought. We (McEvoy Mitchell Racing) go to the sales like everybody else and put our necks on the line; we get some really lovely clients involved, and I think we’ve got a good system.
“These are two horses (Dublin Down, Blue Stratum) who will continue to get better. Especially the winner, he’s a lovely horse and probably a Guineas horse next year,” he added.
“These are two horses (Dublin Down, Blue Stratum) who will continue to get better. Especially the winner, he’s a lovely horse and probably a Guineas horse next year.” – Calvin McEvoy
“We will work out what we do with these two over the next few days, but Blue Stratum could head towards the Merson Cooper. I think experience just got him beat, but he’s a very nice horse himself.”
Winning jockey Purton added, “Dublin Down got slightly lost when he hit the front. However, he got challenged and then got down and did his job.”
Connections of Dublin Down after winning the G3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Vinery excited for future
The pre-Christmas exploits of Dublin Down have the team at Vinery Stud excited for what the future holds for Exceedance.
Peter Orton, Vinery Stud’s general manager, was on course at Flemington to witness Dublin Down scorch the turf, “Dublin Down’s victory in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate was a fantastic result because the progeny of Exceedance are not pre-Christmas horses.
“They are beautiful horses, but we expected the Exceedance progeny to be later 2-year-olds. So, for him to sire the pre-Christmas Group 3 winner is very exciting.
“… we expected the Exceedance progeny to be later 2-year-olds. So, for him to sire the pre-Christmas Group 3 winner is very exciting.” – Peter Orton
“The progeny of Exceedance really standout in the paddocks, and I know it’s a cliche term for a stud master to say. However, they are special, beautiful horses, and we’ve got five or six horses that we’ve put our foot on to help Exceedance along.
“And all the feedback we’ve received from trainers has been really positive. They’ll probably be better following preparation, but to see a son of Exceedance come up so early is absolutely fantastic.”
“The progeny of Exceedance really standout in the paddocks… they are special, beautiful horses, and we’ve got five or six horses that we’ve put our foot on to help Exceedance along.” – Peter Orton
The son of the outstanding influence Exceed And Excel, Exceedance was trialling in April but didn’t debut until May at Wyong as a 2-year-old, where the manner of his victory set towns wagging.
The hype was confirmed, with Exceedance winning the G3 San Domenico S., beating the brilliant Bivouac before that horse turned the tables briefly in the G2 Run to the Rose and the G1 Golden Rose.
Exceedance and Bivouac would meet again in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. where the former proved superior down the Flemington straight.
Plenty of upside
The Maribyrnong Plate was the third time at the races for Dublin Down, having finished fourth in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. on debut, then placed behind Admitted at Bendigo.
The colt is the sole runner and first winner for Exceedance, who stands at Vinery Stud for $33,000 (inc GST) this season. Dublin Down is the third foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Dublin Lass. A talented performer, she won seven races, including the Listed Starlight S. and the Bright Shadow H. Dublin Lass was also placed in the G3 GH Mumm S.
Exceedance | Standing at Vinery Stud
Dublin Down hails from the family of Skyerush (Super Jet {USA}), a victress of 11 races from 1200 to 2400 metres. Skyerush won the G2 Emancipation S. twice, the G3 Liverpool City Cup and the G3 Doncaster Mile Prelude. She also placed in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara.
The colt was a $370,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the draft of Edinburgh Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
As testament to the good looks of Dublin Down, the colt was Exceedance’s top-priced colt from his first cop to the sales.
Dublin Down as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Retiring to Vinery Stud, Exceedance has been well-supported, serving 422 mares in three seasons. At the same time, his yearlings averaged $102,299 at the sales this year, with Dublin Down being Exceedance’s top-priced colt at $370,000.
Article thanks to TTR Aus/NZ – Keely McKitterick.
