Exceedance topped Book 2 at the Magic Millions when Randwick Bloodstock’s Brett Howard bid $250,000 for the filly out of Croatian (Lot 1066).
The Vinery freshman’s Book 1 average had bubbled just under $170,000. Top price was the $370,000 colt from Dublin Lass (Lot 809) to be trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy.
His Book 2 filly from Croatian (High Chaparral) was bred and sold by Baramul Stud and is a half-sister to Croatian Belle (Brazen Beau) who is one of the fancied fillies for the delayed $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at the Gold Coast this Thursday.
Howard (as agent) bought the Exceedance filly on Sunday for owner Sean Dyson who is currently developing a racing property just outside of Singleton that will become the new stables for his cousin Todd Howlett.
They saw off competition from Lindsay Park and agent James Bester to land the filly ahead of what could be a significant pedigree update later this week. Croatian Belle is trained by Ben & JD Hayes and will be coming off back-to-back juvenile wins over 1000m at Moonee Valley last month
“If Croatian Belle wins on Thursday it will obviously help our filly’s residual value,” Howard said. “Outside of that, she’s just a really nice filly and hearing the names of the underbidders lets you know you’re on the right track.”
Ben Hayes was upbeat about the Magic Millions Classic after Croatian Belle went two-for-two on New Year’s Eve. “She’s been very good and is up there with our best two year-olds. We went to Moonee Valley because it’s a tight track – just like the Gold Coast. I liked the way she fought back under pressure and was very strong through the line.”
Croatian Belle is also eligible for part of the $500,000 bonus awarded to the first all-female owned horse past the post in the Classic. Her dam Croatian is a full-sister to Queensland 2yo Stakes-performer A Man To Match and second dam Pregrada (More Than Ready) is a half-sister to Zagreb (MRC Naturalism Stakes LR) and the dam of Flying Award (VRC Anzac Day 2yo Stakes LR).
