Trainer Lance O’Sullivan has parted with $220,000 for a first-crop filly by Vinery sire Exceedance at the NZB National Yearling Sale and he was happy to pay it for the privilege of taking her home to Matamata.
Catalogued as Lot 643 on Tuesday, she’s a half-sister to Karman Line (Myboycharlie) and was top-priced among the yearlings bound for the Wexford Stables founded by legendary trainer Dave O’Sullivan.
Before taking over Wexford Stables, Lance O’Sullivan forged an international Group 1 career as a jockey from New Zealand. He famously won the 1989 Japan Cup on his father’s champion mare Horlicks (Three Legs) and was also part of Australian folklore piloting Our Waverley Star the day Bonecrusher beat him a head after a two-horse war in the 1986 Cox Plate.
O’Sullivan will be back at the grass-roots this Sunday hoping for a post-sale update with Karman Line in the STE Electrical Hcp (1600m) at Tauranga. She was an unlucky third in last year’s Karaka 3YO Million (LR, 1600m) and is coming off an unplaced run at Te Rapa when stewards reported she was held up and untested in the home straight.
“She should have won the Karaka 3YO Million,” O’Sullivan recalled. “She stood on something and punctured the sole of her foot and it just wouldn’t come right.
“The Exceedance filly is a beautiful type in her own right by a Coolmore Stakes winner who is an exciting young stallion,” he said. “We think the world of Karman Line and this filly has a lot of the same physical qualities with a great purpose and a great walk.”
Their dam World Away (Pierro) is an unraced daughter of USA-bred mare Miss World (Bernstein) who won the Garden City Stakes (Gr.1, 1800m) at Belmont Park.
The other Exceedance knocked down during Book 1 at Karaka was the filly from Laney (Lot 296) targeted by Slade Bloodstock and Lindsay Park for $150,000. Her USA-bred dam was Group-placed at Churchill Downs and Keeneland.
Slade Bloodstock had also purchased an Exceedance three-quarter brother to Excelorada (WATC Summer Scorcher LR, 1000m) at the Magic Millions last month.
“We’ve been waiting for the first yearlings by Exceedance,” Rob Slade claimed. “He was a sensational racehorse and our Gold Coast colt will be trained by Lee Freedman. He reminds Lee of his former top sprinter Poetic King who won three Group 1 races in Melbourne. Lee loves him and he looks perfect for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic next year!”
Exceedance has another strong consignment of 14 yearlings at the Inglis Classic Sale starting Sunday week, February 12. Apart from three colts and a filly from Vinery, there are a further ten lots on offer from as many outside vendors.
