BREEDING FORUM

Posted: **Mon Jul 22, 2013 22:56 pm**

Black Caviar to Visit Exceed and ExcelTara Madgwick - Tuesday, 23 July 2013
The owners of champion mare Black Caviar have at last settled on a suitor for their superstar with Darley’s Exceed and Excel given the nod.

Advertised at a fee of $88,000, Exceed and Excel will be crowned Champion Australian Sire for this season following a benchmark 12 months for the son of Danehill that has seen him produce the winners of more than $11.2 million prizemoney.

His best performers this year have been Golden Slipper winner Overreach and dual Group I winner Guelph, who between them won the Sydney Triple Crown for two year-olds.

Interestingly, Exceed and Excel was also chosen as the first partner for Australian Horse of the Year and former sprint queen Miss Andretti, who won many of the same races won by Black Caviar and is bred along somewhat similar lines to the unbeaten world champion.

Both mares are by sons of Royal Academy (USA), Black Caviar is by Bel Esprit, while Miss Andretti is by Ihtiram (IRE).

The result of Miss Andretti’s first mating to Exceed and Excel is now a three year-old chestnut gelding called Mr Villeneuve, who is yet to race, although does have a stable return with Anthony Freedman listed to train.

Offering sobering food for thought is the fact Miss Andretti has not had a foal since 2009, having missed or slipped in her next four years at stud.

One hopes things go more smoothly for Black Caviar.