Second Group 1 winner for Dundeel

Expectations for Dundeel’s stud career were naturally shaped by his Classic pedigree and race record, which indicated that his progeny would start to make an impact as 3YOs racing at 1600 metres and beyond.

They have certainly done that – think South African Group 1 winner Atyaab, Melbourne Group winners  Global Exchange & The Inevitable, New Zealand stakeswinner Cutadeel and Group-placed colt Dealmaker. 

More of a surprise is the rocketing juvenile success of Dundeel’s second crop, which has produced three brilliant debut winners: NZ-based Yourdeel in December, Castelvecchio in Sydney and Pandano at Newcastle in January.  

Pandano is now spelling, but Castelvecchio progressed to win the $2 million ATC Inglis Millennium (R) LR on 9 February and run third in the Skyline S. G3. His Autumn campaign is now aimed at the $1 million Inglis Sires G1 on 6 April.

Yourdeel’s trajectory has been even more dramatic. He impressed when dead-heating for third in the ARC Karaka Million (R) on 26 January, ran away from his rivals to win the Matamata RC Slipper S. G3 a month later and on Saturday he became Dundeel’s first 2YO Group 1 winner.

And he did it the hard way in the $200,000 ARC Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. 1200m G1, driving forward early to travel energetically on the pace, making his move at the top of the straight and fighting off five challengers to prevail by a short head from Aalaalune & Aretha, with Snitzel’s daughter Bavella fourth.

It was a record-equalling 62nd Group 1 victory for jockey Opie Bosson who said, “He over-raced a bit early and I thought surely he can’t keep going. When I got stuck in, he fought so hard, he’s a top-quality horse.”

What a finish! @TeAkauRacing‘s Yourdeel ($1.70) fights back to stave off the challenges from Aalaalune and Aretha and claim Group 1 honours in the first of the #AucklandCup Day features, the Group 1 Sistema Stakes pic.twitter.com/UwtiKDOhEq

— TAB Racing (@TAB_Racing) March 9, 2019

Trained by Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards at Matamata, Yourdeel (ex Miss Zapper by Red Ransom) was originally bought by Little Avondale Stud from breeder Dan Myers at the 2017 NZ National Weanling Sale.

Offered at the 2018 National Yearling Sale at Karaka by Little Avondale, he was knocked down to the $100,000 bid of Chris Rutten who races the gelding with John Norwood and Rod Preston.

Dundeel now heads the New Zealand 2nd Season Sires table, and is third, behind Savabeel & Showcasing, on the New Zealand 2YO Sires’ Premiership. In Australia he’s a clear third on the 2nd Season Sires list with  21 winners, 3 stakeswinners and  $2.5 million prizemoney.

Dundeel’s eight stakeswinners from his first 60 runners give him an excellent strike rate of 13.3%. Furthermore, international bloodstock analyst Bill Oppenheim’s APEX ratings, which identified Snitzel & Savabeel back in 2012, recently highlighted Dundeel with an A Runner index of 4.11.

The 2019 Inglis Easter Sale catalogue includes 14 yearlings by Dundeel, all but three of them in Arrowfield’s consignment.