Race record to Kencella

As the winner of five of his eight starts prior to the running of the G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill on March 22, Exceed And Excel gelding Kencella extending his winning record to six, achieving a new race record with a classy one-and-a-quarter length victory.

Jumping straight to the lead, the speedy four-year-old was never headed as he kicked clear at the 300m to become the 81st Stakes winner for his sire, defeating the dual G3 winner Va Pensiero with That’s A Good Idea back in third.

Bred and raced by Lex and Shirley Piper, Kencella is out of the dual Listed-winning Metal Storm mare Kentiara, herself a sister to the G2 winner Kalatiara.

The sire of eight G1 winners highlighted by this season’s Blue Diamond winner Earthquake and last season’s Golden Slipper winner Overreach, Exceed And Excel will be represented by 27 yearlings at April’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale including Lot 185, a three-quarter brother to last year’s $4 million, second top priced lot.