Dundeel filly impresses on Ballarat’s big day
Dundeel, seen parading at Arrowfield in August 2018, is described by leading Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher as "a sire to look out for." (PHOTO: Darren Tindale)
Ballarat’s standalone Cup Day marks the official end of the Victorian Spring Carnival and aptly enough, The Closer was one of the most eye-catching winners on the card.
The daughter of Dundeel won her debut at Geelong as a late 2YO before an unplaced attempt over an unsuitable 1100 metres in Group company on Oaks Day.
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable rated her an each way chance at Ballarat in a strong field for the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade, but she raced away for a 2.75 length victory, with Winning Partner & Bricktop (by Snitzel) filling the placings.
Watch The Closer win at Ballarat.
Exceptional talent The Closer winning at Ballarat, one of several very nice horses in the stable by Dundeel. He’s a sire to look out for! #nextbigthing pic.twitter.com/zqxDldGs9d
— Ciaron Maher Racing (@cmaherracing) November 24, 2018
The Closer is out of Miss Evasive (by Elusive Quality), herself a city-winning daughter of dual Classic winner Magical Miss. The filly was a $70,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher and Wes & Sally Ballantine from the draft of her breeder Gilgai Farm at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
Miss Evasive has since delivered two colts by Dundeel’s barn-mate Olympic Glory, the first of which was bought by trainer Paul Perry from this year’s Inglis Premier Sale for $140,000 – he is now named Krayzelburg. The second Olympic Glory colt will be offered at next year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. Gilgai sent the mare back to Dundeel this Spring and she is safely in foal to the six-time Group 1 winner.
The Closer is Dundeel’s fifth 3YO winner in 24 days, after Nordicus (in Sydney), Malfoy, Total Power and Shake On It, and one of his 18 first-crop winners to date. The champion son of High Chaparral has also been represented by two Group performers this Spring, Irukandji and Dealmaker.
The Closer’s co-trainer David Eustace told RSN on Sunday, “I’d say we’d probably pop her away now with a view to the Autumn and Queensland [Winter Carnival]. We always felt that she’d get a trip. There’s a nice race in her for sure.
“We’ve had a lot of success with them [the Dundeels]. We’ve won three races and the other one has been placed and we think he’s going to be a very good sire for us.
“His stats are very good, and they will continue to improve as his progeny head to stakes class.”
Magic Millions has catalogued 14 Dundeel yearlings for its 2019 Gold Coast Sale, eight of them in Arrowfield’s consignment, including four out of mares by Redoute’s Choice.
