With six stallions already represented by at least one stakes winner, It hardly needs repeating that this is an exceptional group of first season stallions.
We will be backing that number to increase to seven on Saturday when the Xtravagant colt He's Xceptional tackles an even field of juveniles in the Group III Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, He's Xceptional made his career debut in the $500,000 Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley last October. He was never really a factor, finishing tenth of the 15 starters, although he did not shirk his task despite a torrid run to be beaten just over five lengths behind the winner Sneaky Five.
Given a break, He's Xceptional opened his winning account with an impressive two and a half-length score over 1000 metres at Cranbourne on March 5. Two weeks later, he went to Moonee Valley, where he proved no match for the runaway winner Crystal Bound. That daughter of Not A Single Doubt went to Randwick for the $1million Percy Sykes Stakes, where she was edged out by Jamaea.
He's Xceptional had to play second fiddle again to the talented Hunnam at his most recent start over 1200m at Caulfield.
Bred by Seymour Bloodstock, He's Xceptional was purchased by Clarke Bloodstock for $40,000 out of the Newhaven Park Stud draft at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from as many to race out of the 3-time winning Sebring mare She's A Danica, a three-quarter-sister to Group II Moonee Valley Fillies Classic runner-up Tahni Girl (Sebring) and half-sister to stakes-placed Into Orbit (Northern Meteor).
Granddam Rockin Babe (Rock Of Gibraltar) is an unraced three-quarter sister to stakes-winner and successful sire Hidden Dragon, and a half-sister to Group II Furious Stakes winner and Group 1 placed Just Dancing, and Group III winner Tahni Girl, the dam of Group III winner and successful sire Maschino and stakes-winner Kentucky Breeze.
Rockin Babe is a daughter of the Champion 2YO Filly in NZ in 1994-95, Ballroom Babe.
A daughter of Citidancer (USA), Ballroom Babe won eight races up to 1600m in NZ, including three Group 1s, the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes and Captain Cook Stakes.
A full-sister to He's Xceptional was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) or $150,000 at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After missing in 2019, She's a Danica visited Xtravagant again last spring.
An outstanding sprinter/miler, Xtravagant won the Group1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas by eight and a half lengths in record time and the Group 1 Waikato Sprint by a similar margin.
The son of Pentire (GB) was crowned Champion 3YO Colt in New Zealand and was the highest rate 3YO in New Zealand since the mighty Bonecrusher.
Xtravagant had 87 live foals from the 117 mares he covered at his first season at Newhaven Park Stud in 2017.
