Godolphin’s Zethus breaks his maiden in the Canonbury Stakes on Saturday 

Darley’s Exceed And Excel (Danehill) was represented by his 181st stakes winner on Saturday when Godolphin’s Zethus (2 c ex Melpomene by Elusive Quality) broke his maiden in the Canonbury Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m). 

Zethus had finished second on debut over course and distance on January 16 and on Saturday settled down in fourth position, one off the fence. Into the straight he took a quile to wind up but grabbed a victory in the final stages to win by the narrowest of margins. The Chris Waller-trained Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), who looked the winner with 50 metres left to run, finished second with Sing A Love Song (Your Song) running on well from back in the field to finish a further short-head back in third. 

"He ran beautifully first up against Remarque and I think he's backed it up by improving a bit today," Cummings said.

"He knuckled down so strongly against a very classy colt and I'd say he's looking every bit for 1200 metres next time."

Raced by a Coolmore syndicate, Home Affairs was bought by Tom Magnier for $875,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Torryburn Stud. 

Cummings said Zethus would be given every chance to keep progressing through to the better autumn two-year-old races.

"It's only the end of January. There are quite a few steps to take before we get to the big races but he is doing everything right so far," he said.

"He's got lots of upside and the best attitude to improve as a two-year-old.

"This horse is in all the races so we will just pick the spot that is going to be sweet enough for him."

Zethus is out of the stakes placed Elusive Quality (Gone West) mare Melpomene making him a brother to the Magic Night Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winning filly Calliope and a half-brother to Group 3 placed Thalia (Medaglia d’Oro) who is herself the dam of Listed winner Aquitaine (Exceed And Excel). 

The colt’s second dam is VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me) who produced Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed filly Bound For Earth (Northern Meteor). 

Melpomene, who was bought for $825,000 by John Ferguson Bloodstock at the 2007 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, was covered by Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Dark Angel) last September and has a yearling filly by Astern (Medaglia d’Oro). 

Zethus is the first juvenile stakes winner in Australia this season for Exceed And Excel who had 14 yearlings sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $1,180,000 at an average of $227,143.