'Roc' Rolled at Randwick

The money poured in for Alan Bell's Eden Roc (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), who was sent off the $1.70 (7-10) favorite for the Saturday opener at Royal Randwick, but with one previous start under her belt, the James Cummings-trained and Dato Tan Chin Nam-owned Exceeds (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) gave her sire yet another 2-year-old winner with a 19-1 upset.

Ridden with cover this time around after a pace-pressing fourth to 'TDN Rising Star' From Within (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) on Canterbury debut Dec. 31, Exceeds raced about fourth-last early on and right on the back of Eden Roc, who jumped fairly, then raced just behind the speed. Asked for his best off the final corner, the heavy favorite looked one-paced at the 200m mark, while Exceeds was anything but that as she quickened up impressively beneath Brenton Avdulla and sprinted best to score by 3/4 of a length (video). Eden Roc re-rallied and earned a photo for second.

“She had the race experience from one of Sydney's best Saturday two-year-old races over the past few months,” Cummings offered. “She was able to produce late like a really promising filly in the making.”

Bred by and consigned to the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Musk Creek Farm, Exceeds was purchased by Duncan Ramage's DGR Thoroughbred Services for A$250,000. She is the 16th individual 2-year-old winner (12th city winner) on the season for Snitzel, who logged a record-tying 30 juvenile winners in 2015/2016. Exceeds is out of Exceedingly Happy (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a half-sister to G1 Epsom H. winner Rock Kingdom (Aus) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), and is kin to a yearling filly by All Too Hard (Aus), a weanling colt by Pierro (Aus). Exceedingly Happy was most recently bred to Written Tycoon (Aus).

Eden Roc, an A$750,000 Gold Coast yearling and close relative of Bell's talented sprinter Star Turn (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), only got going in the final 150 metres and will be suited by 1100m and 1200m going forward, Berry commented post-race.