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All Roads Lead to Blue Diamond for Exceed And Excel's Zulfiqar

Mark Smith - Saturday Feb 4

Godolphin's Exceed And Excel colt Zulfiqar ran up to his debut win in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington last October, with a game front-running triumph in Saturday's Group III Lamaro's Hotel Chairman's Stakes (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside.

Zulfiqar is Blue Diamond bound (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Ben Melham for James Cummings, Zulfiqar found the lead from his inside barrier. The favourite Veecee was caught three deep, although Ethan Brown still had a handful of horse when asked for the supreme effort.

Veecee levelled up, but Zulfiqar began to rally and pulled clear to defeat the Capitalist colt Veecee by one and a quarter lengths, with the Showtime debutant Tacit a further length and a quarter back in third.

Born on July 31 2020, Zulfiqar carries the 1 over 2 brand indicating he was the first foal for Godolphin born that year.

The son of Exceed And Excel followed his winning career debut in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes with a fifth, as favourite, in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate on the same track a month later.

Ben Melham said Zulfiqar had taken benefit from the break.

"He has definitely come back a better horse," Melham said.

"James (Cummings) said he was the first foal born on the farm, so that has to count for something.

"He was able to control the race, get to the right part of the track.

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"There is no doubt (about the 1200m of the Blue Diamond. He is a sensible horse and was strong through the line.

"He will run well in the Diamond."

Zulfiqar is the first live foal of the winning Elusive Quality mare Sayf Shamal (USA). While she carries the USA suffix, Sayf Shamal (USA) is a daughter of the STC Magic Night Stakes winner Alizes (Rory's Jester).

Alizes is the dam of Godolphin's blue hen Essaouira (Exceed and Excel).

A three-quarter sister to Zulfiqar, Essaouira is the dam of Group 1 winners Alizee and Astern and stakes-placed Tassort and Mogador.

Frankel covered Sayf Shamal (USA) before she was shipped to Australia, but unfortunately, she slipped.

The daughter of Elusive Quality (USA) has a yearling brother to Zulfiqar and a filly foal by Lonhro. She revisited Exceed And Excel last spring.

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Race Result - Lamaro's Hotel Chairman's Stks Gr3 1000m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:59.33
1
Zulfiqar
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Sayf Shamal (USA) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 59
2
1.3
Veecee
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Isabella (AUS) (Poet's Voice (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 59
Capitalist
3
3.1
Tacito
- 2c Showtime (AUS) x Without Saying (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
4
3.7
Serasana
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Twilight Royale (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: D Yendall 57
5
6.0
Written Bligh
- 2f Written By (AUS) x Lady Bligh (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
6
7.7
Hells Son
- 2g Hellbent (AUS) x Mowgli (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Dale Rdr: J Bowditch 57
7
11.0
Miss Burgoyne
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Silk Sheets (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 55
8
11.2
Perilous Fighter
- 2c Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Beauty School (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: Craig Williams 57
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