Sixteen year’s after Exceed And Excel captured the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the straight at Flemington, his top-class son Bivouac equalled the feat and what a performance it was.
While the rest of the field was off the bit at the 300m, Glen Boss was swinging off Bivouac and it was possession from there on.
Coming down the stand-side rail, Bivouac defeated fellow three-year-old Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) by two and a half lengths with Gytrash (Lope de Vega) a length back in third.
"He didn't put a foot wrong," Boss said.
“Going to the barriers I knew I was on the winner. He went to the barriers like he meant business.
"He broke beautifully, he got into a lovely trail and that was ridiculous how easily he won. He gave me a lovely ride.
"It is very rare against that quality of opposition you walk away with a victory that easily.
"From the 300 metres to the 100 metres, geez they went quick and he really turned it on."
The winner of last year’s Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes, Bivouac advances his record to 6 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 13 starts with earnings of $2,147,000.
Godolphin managing director Vin Cox said that Bivouac was almost certain to stay in training at four.
“He was already a Group 1 winner but to win a Newmarket, which is one of the elite races on the Australian calendar, and to do it in the dominant way he has it’s pretty spectacular,” Cox said.
“Bossy rang me ten days ago desperate for the ride and he was very confident pre-race.
“He’s a son of Exceed And Excel, he’s a very exciting prospect and we hope to race him on for another 12 months at least until next season and we’re very excited.”
Cox indicated Bivouac would head to Sydney for Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 4.
A homebred for Godolphin, Bivouac is a three-quarter brother to the 4-time Group 1 winner Guelph, out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Dazzler who won her first two starts at Geelong and Flemington in an 11-start career.
Dazzler is a half-sister to the Group II ATC Todman Stakes winner Ghibellines out of Elusive Quality's Group 1 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Camarilla who had just four foals before her tragic death in October 2012.
Dazzler's first foal Coruscate, a full brother to Bivouac, was a 4-time winner and placed in the Group II ATC Skyline Stakes and Group III ATC Pago Pago Stakes.
Dazzler has a yearling filly by Medaglia D'Oro (USA) and foaled a Lonhro colt last spring before being covered once again by Exceed And Excel.
Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel had a profitable day with Lindsay Park’s hugely impressive 2yo filly Minhaaj keeping her record perfect in the Group III Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington, while Resin placed in the Group III Wenona Girl Stakes and Microphone was runner-up in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas at Randwick.
