Dundeel colt impresses with gritty Sydney win
Dealmaker was an attractive Arrowfield yearling in 2017, and is now an eye-catching maiden 2YO winner for Star Thoroughbreds.(PHOTO: Georgie Lomax)
No horse wins six Group 1 races in Sydney and Melbourne without an indomitable competitive spirit, and the tougher the competition, the harder Dundeel fought to win.
That attribute was evident in the gritty win of Dundeel’s 2YO son Dealmaker over 1550 metres at Randwick’s Kensington track on Monday.
Sent out at $5.50 after his third at Gosford on 31 May, Dealmaker jumped smartly and settled just behind the early leader Battle Plane before Kerrin McEvoy drove him forward round the turn.
His lead seemed likely to be short-lived as the favourite and last-start winner Morpheus (by Snitzel) loomed on the outside, but Dealmaker had other ideas. He held his ground and the pair wrestled up the straight until the Dundeel colt pulled away in the final 100 metres to win by 0.4 length, with Miss Earth 2.7 lengths back in third place.
Watch Dealmaker win at Randwick.
Dealmaker carries the famous Purple & White Stars of Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds which bought the colt for $160,000 from Arrowfield’s 2017 Inglis Classic Sale draft.
His win was the third for Star owners in three days, after Invincibella’s Dane Ripper S. G2 victory, and Noire’s win at Randwick on Saturday. Dealmaker’s success capped a memorable Queen’s Birthday weekend for Chris Waller and his team who added nine wins to their season record, including the J.J. Atkins Plate G1 with The Autumn Sun.
Dealmaker is the fourth winner from Dundeel’s first crop of juveniles, after Group 3 winner Irukandji, New Zealand winner Cutadeel and Atyaab, successful in South Africa. He is also the first winner for his dam Sport Chic, a city-winning daughter of Redoute’s Choice and Listed winner Cinque.
Arrowfield sold Dealmaker’s full brother for $140,000 to Payne Racing at this year’s Inglis Easter Sale, while Sport Chic has a weanling colt by Real Impact and is again in foal to Dundeel.
Demand for Dundeel’s second-crop yearlings was strong across all major 2018 sales, with his top lots selling for up to $500,000 (Inglis Easter), $280,000 (Magic Millions), $NZ270,000 (NZ Premier), $150,000 (Inglis Classic) and $180,000 (Inglis Melbourne Premier).
