Forced to miss a couple of intended engagements due to soft ground, SACRED (Exceed And Excel) made up for lost time with a sparkling display of speed in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in the hands of Tom Marquand. Held-up in last through the opening stages, William Haggas’s filly made rapid progress onto the heels of the leaders over 2f out before unleashing a potent turn of foot to seal an impressive success. She joins dual-Group 1 winner Red Evie as only the second filly to win this contest since it was upgraded to Group 2 status in 2006. Sacred was a leading juvenile last term but showed she is still progressing as she took her form up another level following her win in the Group 3 Nell Gwynn Stakes back in April.
A Cheveley Park Stud homebred, Sacred is out of the winning mare SACRE CAROLINE (Blame) who is a half-sister to the US Champion Racemare LADY ELI (Divine Park) and was purchased for 300,000gns at Tattersalls Dcember Sale in 2017. Sacre Caroline is also the dam of the 2yo filly ENSHRINE (Ulysses) – who has been retained in training with William Haggas – and a Ulysses colt who is catalogued as Lot 247 in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. In addition, Sacre Caroline has a Ulysses colt foal at foot and has been scanned in foal to Frankel.