A look at the highest-ratings products of now-retired champion Aussie stallion.
Breeding enthusiasts have long known the impact of Exceed And Excel, but some who don't closely monitor the bloodstock industry might have been surprised to have learned what a star he was after Darley announced on Wednesday he had been retired from stud duty.
The son of Danehill has thrown many Group 1 stars in his homeland, the likes of Bivouac, Helmet, Exceedance, Overreach and Flamberge, and owns a place on the Australian Champion Sire table, but his reach extends well beyond Australia.
He shuttled to Europe for 16-straight seasons, which helped him amass more than 1800 winners who, to date, have earned $270,816,673 in prizemoney.
Exceed And Excel was the first stallion in history to 500 juvenile winners and no sire born in Australia has produced more Stakes winners than his 215.
A measure of that achievement is highlighted by the fact breeding barn legends Deep Impact, Dubawi, Galileo, More Than Ready, Sadlers Wells and his own father are the only others with more than 2000.
Nineteen of Exceed And Excel's sons or daughters have won at the highest level with 21 having posted a Timeform rating of at least 120, the best of whom were:
133: EXCELEBRATION: Owns not only the highest ratings returned by one of Exceed And Excel's progeny – for his win in the 2021 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1609m) – but the top four having run two 130 twice in defeat behind Frankel and 129 in one of his Group 1 wins in France.
128: BIVOUAC: Went 128 to win the 2020 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m), but also owns the equal highest Newmarket Handicap win of the past decade, a 127 win in 2021.
125: HELMET: Was a key participant in one of the most memorable Caulfield Guineas (1600m) wins this century, his 2011 stoush with Manawanui, which saw him post a rating of 125.
125: EXCEEDANCE: No mean feat toppling Bivouac over 1200m at Flemington, but Exceedance did in the 2019 Coolmore Stud Stakes, a performance that earned him a mark of 125.
124: MR STUNNING: A three-time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, the Aussie-bred ran 124 a number of times, including both of his wins in the Hong Kong Sprint.
Exceed And Excel also has two 123 performers, James Garfield and Cylinder, while Nunthorpe Stakes winners Margot Did and 1000 Guineas winner Mawj were among six of his progeny to return a peak rating of 122.
Overreach, his Golden Slipper winner, ran 121, the same peak figure as 2009 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort and Microphone, while two of his most prolific Group 1 performers, four-time winner Guelph and three-time winner Flamberge, had peaks of 120.
Exceed And Excel's Group 1 winners:
Guelph (4): ATC Sires', Champagne Stakes, Flight Stakes, Thousand Guineas.
Bivouac (3): Golden Rose, Newmarket Handicap, VRC Sprint Classic.
Excelebration (3): Prix Du Moulin De Longchamp, Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques le Marois, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Flamberge (3): The Goodwood, Oakleigh Plate, William Reid Stakes.
Helmet (3): ATC Sires, Champagne Stakes, Caulfield Guineas
Mr Stunning (3): Hong King Sprint (twice), Chairman's Sprint.
Amber Sky (2): Kent & Curwen Centenary Cup, Al Quoz Sprint
Mawj (2): 1000 Guineas, Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup.
Queen Supreme (2): Cartier Paddock Stakes (twice)
September Run (2): Coolmore Stud Stakes, William Reid Stakes.
Earthquake: Blue Diamond Stakes.
Exceedance: Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Excellent Proposal: Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Margot Did: Nunthorpe Stakes.
Microphone: ATC Sires'.
Mischief Magic: Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Outstrip: Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf
Overreach: Golden Slipper.
Reward For Effort: Blue Diamond Stakes.
