DANZIG (by Northern Dancer) was one of the greatest thoroughbred stallions and although the list of his sons that sired at least one Group/Grade 1 winner at stud is a long one, the bulk of his influence now is from powerful lines forged by two of his most talented European sons: Green Desert and Danehill.

Danehill, the success story who is arguably largely responsible for the now huge business of shuttling stallions to and from the southern hemisphere, notched up a record 348 stakes winners globally, and his long list of Group 1-siring stallion sons features the Australian-bred horse who became one of the first from down under to make a big impact when shuttling to Europe.

Exceed And Excel outperformed his own pedigree on the track, becoming a dual Group 1 star for a family whose blacktype scorers, in the first four generations, were only listed or Group/Grade 3 winners and he has achieved even greater fame at stud.

He is a champion sire in Australia and, in addition to his string of Group 1 winners there, he has established himself as an important source of speed and precocity in Europe.

The multiple Group 1-winning miler Excelebration heads his roll of honour here. That Coolmore Stud based horse is among his early stallion sons and had first crop foals make up to €220,000 in 2014.

Exceed And Excel also had a good year in the European auction rings with his yearlings making up to 420,000gns.

At the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in Australia he had the fourth highest priced lot of the sale, an AUS$800,000 filly from the immediate family of the Group 1 South Australian Derby heroine Mapperly Heights (by Sir Tristram).

His European crops have also yielded the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Margot Did and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes winner Outstrip, along with speedy Group 2 scorers such as Best Terms, Fulbright, Heavy Metal, Infamous Angel, and Masamah.

His others include the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes and Group 3 Molecomb Stakes winner Bungle Inthejungle, who is just about to start his first season at Rathasker Stud.

Also new for 2015 is his Group 2-winning son Kuroshio, who is at Overbury Stud, while those whose first yearlings will be on offer this coming autumn include his Australian triple Group 1 star Helmet.

The European half of that Kildangan Stud stallion’s global first crop made up to 98,000gns at auction in 2014 and his 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale results include an AUS$230,000 colt.

Exceed And Excel has proved his ability to get Group 1-winning sprinters, milers and juveniles. By Sunday he already had three blacktype winners in 2015, and with an overall career tally of 91, to that date, he is just months away from joining the illustrious list of stallions who have notched up the century.

EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS)

Race record: Winner of 7 races, from 2-3 years, over 5.5-7f inc Dubai Racing Club Cup, Gr.1, Newmarket Handicap, Gr.1, Up And Coming Stakes, Gr.2, Royal Sovereign Stakes, Gr.2, Todman Slipper Trial, Gr.2, Roman Consul Stakes, Gr.3; 2nd Black Opal Stakes, Gr.3, etc. Champion sprinter in Australia in 2003/04.

Stud record: Retired to stud in Australia in 2004; Ireland in 2005. 91 SW inc Amber Sky (Al Quoz Sprint, Gr.1), Earthquake (Blue Diamond Stakes, Gr.1), Excelebration (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Gr.1, Prix Jacques le Marois, Gr.1, Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Gr.1), Guelph (1000 Guineas, Gr.1, Flight Stakes, Gr.1, Sires’ Produce Stakes, Gr.1, Champagne Stakes, Gr.1), Helmet (Caulfield Guineas, Gr.1, Sires’ Produce Stakes, Gr.1, Champagne Stakes, Gr.1), Margot Did (Nunthorpe Stakes, Gr.1), Outstrip (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Gr.1), Overreach (Golden Slipper Stakes, Gr.1), Reward For Effort (Blue Diamond Stakes, Gr.1), etc. Champion sire in Australia in 2012/13. Yearlings made up to 420,000gns in 2014; foals made up to 92,000gns in 2014. Yearlings of 2015 made up to AUS$800,000.

Stands at: Kildangan Stud, Monasterevin, Co Kildare.

Contact: Gerry Duffy, Eamon Moloney or Anthony O’Donnell on 045 527600.

Email: enquiries@darley.co.uk

Website: www.darleystallions.com

Fee: €40,000 1st Oct SLF