Furnaces claims the Kindergarten

With form around this year’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver (Medaglia d'Oro), two-year-old Exceed And Excel colt Furnaces started the favourite in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes over 1100m on Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

Travelling forward for jockey James McDonald to settle just behind the leading pair, the Godolphin colt pulled out as the runners headed for the winning post, gathering in the leader to pull away for a half-length victory.

Post-race trainer John O’Shea indicated that the colt will now be spelled and aimed at the lucrative Spring races, with the colt being a “genuine G1 horse next time in.”

Bred by Darley, Furnaces is the second winner, and first Stakes winner from the stakes placed Strategic mare Heat Of The Fire, from the family of G1 winners Melito, Zeditave and Greys Inn.

A sire of 95 Stakes winners including nine at G1 level, Exceed And Excel will be represented at the forthcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by 19 lots, while his G1-winning son and Darley stallion Helmet will be represented by five lots.