Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman could be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu on two fronts when Hamilton Brown led from barrier-to-box in the Mouldy Four Decade Dash Plate (1050m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Hamilton Brown is the latest first-crop winner by Vinery Stud sire Exceedance and he carries the Slade Bloodstock colours of Freedman’s Champion filly Alinghi (Encosta de Lago) who won the 2004 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) and 2005 VRC Newmarket Hcp (Gr.1, 1200m).

Freedman also has a link with Exceedance who is one of 216 Stakes winners by Exceed And Excel.  Back in 2007, he trained the Darley sire’s first-crop black-type winners Exceedingly Good (VRC Maribyrnong Plate Gr.3) and Sugar Babe (MRC Debutants Stakes LR).

Hamilton Brown (2g Exceedance – Never More Lady by No Nay Never) started a long odds-on favourite and was posted three-wide before assuming control and kicking four lengths clear at his home track on Saturday.

“He’s always shown us natural ability and that was a terrific debut,” Rob Slade said.  “He was heading to the Magic Millions 2yo Classic in January before going shin-sore.  He did a power of work in the first 400m and then had the audacity to show a brilliant turn of foot to give nothing else a chance.

“We are going to have a lot of fun with him.”

Slade paid $60,000 for Hamilton Brown at the 2023 Gold Coast Magic Millions from the Kitchwin Hills draft and manages him for a syndicate that includes Chase The Ace Racing and Final Fling Racing.  He was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and is a three-quarter brother to Perth Summer Scorcher (LR, 1000m) winner Excelorada.

He’s the first foal of Never More Lady and she was bred back to Exceedance last September.

Hoofnote:  Vinery (as agent) sold an Exceedance filly from MRC Thousand Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) winner Miss Gunpowder (Pendragon) for $250,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Sunday.  She was offered (as agent) for Vinery partner Steve McCann and was purchased by Macedon Lodge trainer Liam Howley in association with agents Andrew Williams and Bevan Smith.

“I’m a fan of Exceedance and missed out on a couple at the Melbourne Premier,” Howley said after buying Lot 152.  “She’s a lovely, athletic filly and is a standout physical with a lovely pedigree.”