Exceedance entered the silk department at the Gold Coast Magic Millions on Wednesday with a colt sold to Group 1 Japanese owner Masaji Kitagawa and a filly knocked down to Winx’s managing part-owner Peter Tighe.

They targeted the first crop of the Vinery freshman but had to beat off some spirited opposition on Day 2 at the Gold Coast.  The Exceedance colt (Lot 365) made $360,000 and the filly (Lot 263) sold for $250,000.

Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) bought the colt (pictured) from Sharpness (Wanted) for Kitagawa who raced Mozu Ascot (USA) to Group 1 victories in the Yasuda Kinen (1600m) and February Stakes (1600m) in Tokyo.

“Mr Kitagawa fell in love with the Exceedance colt from the moment he saw him,” Satomi Oka said after signing off on the $360,000 price-tag.  “He’s very strong and moves like he will be a real racehorse.”

Mozu Ascot is from the first-crop colt of Frankel (GB) and won 7 races under the care of trainer Yoshito Yahagi earning the equivalent of AUD4.78 million for Kitagawa and Capital System Racing.  He retired to Arrow Stud in Hokkaido where his first crop yearlings will be sold at the JRHA Select Sale in July.

His Exceedance colt from Sharpness (Lot 365) hails from a flying 2yo family through second-dam Crystal Wit (SAJC Dequetteville Stakes LR) and her half-sister Crystal Lily (ATC Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1).

Lizzie Jelfs saw Exceedance up close and personal in her on-camera roles with Sky and Channel 7 and that drew her to his stunning filly from Pussycat Dream (Lot 263) on Wednesday.

Jelfs was acting for Magic Bloodstock owner Peter Tighe and bid $250,000 to beat off some spirited opposition on the Gold Coast.   The attractive black/brown filly is a half-sister to Champion Singapore 4yo Mare What’s New (Casino Prince) who was a Listed winner of the Stewards Cup and Silver Bowl at Kranji in 2019.

“I was a big fan of Exceedance.  He looked the part in the parade-ring and was a top-class sprinter with a brilliant turn of foot,” Jelfs recalled.  “They’re the attributes I saw in this filly even though they may not have been immediately apparent to others.

“She’s still maturing but is one of the nicer fillies here.  I’ve built up a close working relationship with Peter and Noel (Greenhalgh).  She will race in the same colours as Winx and I’m sure will do them proud.”

Exceedance (Exceed And Excel) highlighted Vinery’s Day 2 draft along with a chestnut colt by Toronado (Lot 414) from VRC Ottawa Stakes LR winner Spectrolite (Stratum) that made $300,000.  He was purchased by Victorian -based Bill Pearce who made headlines last year when paying $1.55 million for Group 1-winning mare Sierra Sue (Darci Brahma) on account of Bromfield Park.

Vinery starts Thursday’s morning session at the Magic Millions with a Castelvecchio half-sister to , MRC Bel Esprit Stakes LR winner Office Bearer (Lot 430).  Her second-dam Super Sheila (Last Tycoon) won a Turffontein Star Sprint Gr.1.