Godolphin’s Exceed And Excel gelding Isaurian has an unblemished first up record and he made it five from five with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Listed Magic Millions Falvelon Quality at Eagle Farm and earning himself a wild card entry into the Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast on January 11.
With Josh Parr stuck in Sydney after his flight was cancelled, Robbie Fradd was a last-minute replacement on Isaurian and he made the most of it guiding the 5yo gelding to a long-neck win from Scallopini (Snitzel) with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Fiery Heights (Hidden Dragon) in third.
The James Cummings-trained gelding advances his record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $387,565.
"Isaurian won the Chief De Beers Stakes in the winter but it is good to go get another black-type race. He is a very good fresh horse but this is his first fresh win at 1200m and his first win at 1200m," Godolphin representative Nacim Dilmi told AAP.
"When there was a lot of pace early I was very happy. We will keep him on the fresh side for the Magic Millions in three weeks time."
A full brother to Group III winning juvenile Ottoman and a half-brother to the Listed ATC Dulcify Hcp runner-up Nemrud (Reset), Isaurian is out of the Elusive Quality (USA) mare Byzantine, a half-sister to 5-time Group 1 winner Mummify.
Purchased by Darley for $160,000 out of the Redman Park draft 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Byzantine is a sister to Shabtis who is the dam of the Group III MVRC Champagne Stakes winner Take Pride who is by Exceed And Excel's son Reward For Effort.
Byzantine has not had a live foal in five seasons. She missed to Exceed And Excel last spring.
Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel has a large entry of 31 catalogued for the Magic Millions.
