Black Caviar reportedly to visit Exceed and Excel

As the world watched for the Royal baby announcement, Monday brought

similarly-themed news regarding equine royalty: unbeaten sprint legend Black

Caviar will begin her broodmare career by visiting the court of leading

Australian sire Exceed and Excel.

[Monday evening update: After the

myriad of published reports about Exceed and Excel, the mare herself, and her

commercial manager, took to Twitter to emphasize that the tryst is not

finalized.

"To clarify my mating has not been confirmed,"

Black Caviar

tweeted. "There is some speculation; however

my owners are still considering all options."

"Despite media

speculation," Commercial Manager

Stephen Silk

tweeted, "no official announcement from BC owners re first mate for the mare."]

The highly-anticipated match

would double down on the speed factor, for Exceed and

Excel was an Australian champion sprinter himself. The son of Danehill captured

such major races as the six-furlong Newmarket Handicap and the seven-furlong

Invitation Stakes.

A Darley stallion, Exceed and Excel stands at the Kelvinside location in New

South Wales for A$88,000. During the Northern Hemisphere breeding season, he

stands at Darley's Dalham Hall in Newmarket for £35,000.

The shuttle stallion has made a mark in both the Northern and Southern

Hemispheres. His leading European progeny include the outstanding miler

Excelebration, a highweight in France, Ireland and Germany; English sprint

highweights Margot Did and Fulbright; and speedy juveniles Best Terms, Heavy

Metal, Infamous Angel, Bungleinthejungle and Morawij, the latter also adding the

June 15 Scurry at three.

Among his Australian stars are current Golden Slipper winner Overreach;

Guelph, heroine of the April 13 A.T.C. Sires Produce and April 27 Champagne

since finishing fourth in the Slipper; 2009 Blue Diamond victor Reward for

Effort; and triple Group 1 winner Helmet, who landed the 2011 A.J.C. Sires

Produce, Champagne and Caulfield Guineas.