It was a 1-3 for Godolphin in Saturday’s Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds at Eagle Farm.
With Hugh Bowman in the saddle, the Exceed And Excel gelding Athelric made it four wins in a row when defeating the Territories (IRE) gelding Arentee by a long-head with the favoured Frosted (USA) colt Ingratiating one and a half lengths further back in third.
“Great credit to Athelric. He put himself into the race over the 1200 metres considering the work he did early,” winning trainer James Cummings said.
“The other colt (Ingratiating) ran beautifully. He made up a lot of ground in the straight. We have been thinking that maybe he is looking for seven (furlongs). If that is the case, it certainly opens up many opportunities for him. Having so many weeks off between runs, to finish off so strongly and run third was full of merit.”
“Both of our three-year-olds in this race have been flying, and just the way the race shaped up it advantaged Athelric. He used that gate speed and used that early tactical pace.
“He’s a very progressive three-year-old since we gelded him.
“Not many horses can win three-straight in Sydney, and it takes a stakes horse to do that. We identified this race as one that would suit him, and he’s delivered. He’s got up and run a solid six furlongs.
“I will keep my options open with Athelric. Maybe I’ll freshen him up and run him one more time over 1100 metres. But he’s going to be a beautiful four-year-old sprinter. Four-in-a-row is pretty special and culminates in a stakes race this prep.
“Ingratiating is in the noms for the Stradbroke. If he was to back up as he has before in the Blue Diamond into the Golden Slipper, he will run a big race in the Stradbroke next week with 51.5 kilos on his back.”
Athelric is the only winner from three to race out of the winning Lonhro mare Ida.
On behalf of Jonathon Munz, Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) purchased Ida for $200,000 at the 2021 National broodmare Sale.
A sister to the Group II Tulloch Stakes winner Old North out of Vengeance Of Rain and Dizelle’s dual stakes-winning half-sister Bernicia, Ida was carrying a colt by Sidestep and was covered by King’s Legacy last spring.
Athelric is the 195th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s evergreen Exceed And Excel.
