'Xcellent' Derby Day Hero

Mercedes Derby "superstar", Xcellent (Pentire x Excelo), stole the show on Boxing Day with a sensational win at just his third start in the $500,000 feature race. The unbeaten 3YO was sold by Wellfield Thoroughbreds at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2003 Premier Sale for $45,000.

Second placegetter in the Derby was Mandela (Ebony Grosve x Wairongoa Belle), a bargain purchase for $1750 from the 2003 Festival Sale at Karaka. Select Sale graduate, King Johny (Seasoned Star x Lal's Gift), finished a short head from Mandela for third.

Xcellent has a half brother by Pins being offered by Little Avondale Stud at the Premier Sale at Karaka in January (Lot 393). His sire, Pentire, is represented by 18 yearlings at the Karaka Premier Sale, including Lot 310, a full brother to Waitoki Dream (Pentire x Calm Lover), third placegetter in Sunday's Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Handicap (2400m). The winner of the Queen Elizabeth H. was the Murray Baker-trained Mistrale (Volksraad x Sugarbird), a $21,000 Premier Sale graduate from the draft of Grande Vue Lodge. Garrard (Kaapstad x Regal Times) completed another NZB trifecta, as a $37,000 graduate of the 2001 Select Sale.