Sales for two year-olds in training are looming on the horizon for all three auction houses and the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday has eligibility for the $3million Big Dance for the winner and it was progressive Exceedance 4YO Cristal Clear, who claimed the prize.
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Cristal Clear scored back to back wins at Rosehill over 1500m in Benchmark 78 class before heading to the bush for a strategic target race.
Ridden by Braith Nock, he carried 59kg to a half length win as favourite taking his overall record to five wins from 12 starts with prizemoney topping $350,000.
Cristal Clear was a $50,000 Inglis Ready2Race purchase from the Noorilim Park draft for Group One Thoroughbreds / Annabel Neasham Racing.
He is the best of two winners from Group III placed Cristal Eyes, a half-sister by All Too Hard to Group III winner Flying Evelyn with his third dam Group I ATC Coolmreo Classic winner Bollinger and fourth dam Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.
Cristal Clear is a smart winner on the up for Exceedance, who stands at Vinery at a fee of $33,000.
