Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Impressive juvenile double for Exceedance
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance enjoyed a strong start to Wednesday with a juvenile interstate double courtesy of his daughter She’s Extra scoring in the opener at Warwick Farm, and his son Hard To Exceed repeating the act at Doomben an hour later. The former was securing her second win from two starts, having opened her account at Newcastle on Valentines’ Day over 900 metres.
The margin that day had been a spectacular four lengths for the Kris Lees-trained filly, who was just as dominant at Warwick Farm at her second start. Drawn widest in an eight-horse field, She’s Extra had to come round the outside of Godolphin gallopers Promenade (Pinatubo {Ire}) and Handloom (Exceed And Excel) as the pack entered the straight to get to the front.
Apprentice William Stanley was quick to apply the pressure once straightening and the filly flew clear to sail home by over three lengths in front of Promenade, with ante-post favourite Coco Affair (Home Affairs) a half-length further back in third.
“She was very impressive at Newcastle and warranted an opportunity in town, and she was even better again today,” said Lees’ stable representative Danny Greer. “She found a good position in the run and was strong late. She has plenty of promise going forward.”
“She (She's Extra) warranted an opportunity in town, and she was even better again today.” - Danny Greer
“She’s a beautiful filly and does everything you want her to, she’s the ultimate professional," said Stanley.
Nominated for both the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes, She’s Extra was a $60,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer and Bahen Bloodstock from the draft of Kooringal Stud.
Her early speed can perhaps be attributed to dam Moonrush (Encosta De Lago), a 1200-metre winner who has produced six winners from seven to race, including last season’s dashing juvenile sprinter Shaggy (Sandbar) as well as six-time winner Panzdown (Panzer Division).
Connections of She's Extra after winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Lees and Bahen Bloodstock returned to the well at the recent Inglis Classic sale to spend $80,000 on She’s Extra’s half-brother by Finance Tycoon. Moonrush is back in foal to Sandbar this season.
On debut for Peter Robl, Hard To Exceed had the benefit of the inside gate at Doomben and took advantage of that to speed away to also post a three-length victory. The gelding soundly beat Threeeyedwitch (Worthy Cause) with an identical margin to Warwick Farm back to third-placed Naughty Neil (Capitalist).
Video: Watch Hard To Exceed at Doomben, video courtesy of Racing QLD
Hard To Exceed is the first foal of five-time winning All Too Hard mare Hard Labour, and has been retained to race by his breeders. Hard Labour is a half-sister to Listed-performed, seven-time winner Sofie’s Gold Class (Hard Spun {USA}), dam of last month’s G3 Peter Le Grand Stakes winner Alpha Sofie (Capitalist). Hard To Exceed’s third dam is dual Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee {USA}).
Hard Labour delivered a full brother to Hard To Exceed in 2025 and returned to Exceedance the same season. The early reports on her 2-year-old must have been pretty good.
Just Maz gives Easter-bound sister a boost
Lot 418 at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale received a nice bump to her pedigree on Wednesday when her full sister Just Maz (Justify {USA}) soared home to score yet again at Warwick Farm. When the catalogue went to print, Just Maz was just an unraced 3-year-old.
The 3-year-old filly, trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, had been strong to the line to win on debut at Canterbury in January and she was dutifully backed into favouritism for her second up assault.
Jumping from barrier one, the filly found herself restrained backwards in the small pack and had to bide her time patiently into the home straight before the rail spot opened up and she could accelerate away to win by three quarters of a length from Kitty Okay (Headwater).
Just Maz is an Easter graduate herself, having cost her trainers $800,000 at the event two years ago, the highest price for any of her dam’s progeny since Marianne’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) first foal, an I Am Invincible colt who sold for $1 million.
Marianne herself is a Listed winner and performed on numerous occasions at Group level, and she has already proven the ability to pass her talents on, having produced G2 Tulloch Stakes winner Yaletown (Vancouver).
Just Maz winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Peter Snowden trains Just Maz’s older sister, four-time winner Amreekiyah (Justify {USA}) whom he purchased with Emirates Park for $420,00 the year before. The mare was intended to also run on the Warwick Farm card but was subsequently scratched for another day. Snowden returned to the well in 2025 to purchase the Home Affairs half-sister from Coolmore Stud for $300,000.
Of the 19 Justify (USA) offspring on offer at Inglis Easter, Coolmore will offer seven.
Redemption for Wootton Lass in second win
A winner as a juvenile, 3-year-old Wootton Lass (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has spent the majority of her career at stakes level, but just hasn’t yet manage to execute in a black-type race. Wednesday’s fifth race on the Warwick Farm card might not have been of that calibre, but it was the kind of confidence-boosting win that lets her trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald recalibrate for a stakes-seeking autumn.
Video: Watch Wootton Lass at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Godolphin-owned Taxation (I Am Invincible) was sent off the favourite, but was unable to make up the ground to lead, while Wootton Lass found a spot on the race from barrier one from which to stalk the speed.
It was only upon straightening that Dylan Gibbons gave her the push to go and the filly ran home strongly, fending off a late charge by 4-year-old Manukau (Lonhro) to win by a long neck. Rantan (I Am Invincible) was a further length and a half back in third.
Wootton Lass was a $375,000 graduate of Yarraman Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, where she was bought by Laguna Partnership and John Sargent. Her following siblings, by Home Affairs and Brave Smash (Jpn) respectively, have gone to the stables of the McEvoys and Grahame Begg, the latter of whom was purchased at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Wootton Lass winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
The filly is the first foal of city winner The Natural (Fastnet Rock), a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand) and a full sister to the dam of G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner El Castello (Castelvecchio). The Natural was served by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.
Connections may be buoyed by Wednesday’s victory after a disappointment in the G2 Lightfingers Stakes, as Wootton Lass has been entered for the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint in April.
Zahra strikes at first ride back
Mark Zahra has been out of the saddle for six weeks due to a leg injury sustained at Sandown during a trial morning, and it did not take him long to secure a winner once back on track on Wednesday. The senior hoop struck in his first ride back in the fifth race on the Caulfield Heath card where he guided 3-year-old Loud Charlie (Prague) to victory by three quarters of a length over Viannara (Shalaa {Ire}).
The Lloyd Kennewell-trained gelding had been a winner at his second start in January for Jamie Mott, before failing to fire in the G3 CS Hayes last start. The extra 100 metres proved to be to his liking and he led all the way under Zahra to win.
“I’m fit as a fiddle, don’t worry about me, I’m all good!”, is how Zahra described himself upon dismounting the gelding. The hoop has been hard at work with his rehabilitation over the last six weeks, and added, “it’s good to be rewarded first ride back.”
Zahra will be back aboard Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) on Saturday as the dual Group 1-winning colt attempts to add the G1 Newmarket Handicap to his resume. Zahra will also ride Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) in the G1 All Star Mile.
“It’s been a tough place, my couch, the last few Saturdays!” - Mark Zahra
“There were a few of them that were winning, it’s been a tough place, my couch, the last few Saturdays!” Zahra said. “It was good to have that motivation, I’ve been on him (Tentyris) during the week, he’s flying, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
