A Purrfect result for Dundeel

Nine per cent of Dundeel's runners are now stakes performers - 12 of them at Group 1 level. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Purrfect Deal’s defiant victory in Thursday’s $200,000 Grafton Cup 2350m LR gave her sire Dundeel his 14th career stakeswinner and his sixth this season. 

The 4YO mare started favourite in the race after easily winning the Cup Prelude on 27 June, and willingly pulled out all stops in race record time of 2:24.44 to  hold out Laure Me In, Parry Sound & Berdibek in a blanket finish.  


It was Purrfect Deal’s 7th win from 11 starts and win no. 54 in the best-ever season of Michael Costa’s 10-year training career. He said, “I’ve dreamt about winning this race for 13 years so it is a very emotional day. 

“Spencer putting the pace in the race enabled Purrfect Deal to get into a ‘sweet’ spot and this mare is just so tough. To go from a mile to the 2200 last start, and 11 days after to back up in this quality field and to do that … phenomenal effort!”

Purrfect Deal is the best of 7 winners out of the now-retired Our Kitty (by Tale of the Cat), a Group-placed city winner from the distinguished family of  champions Lonhro & Lankan Rupee and leading sire Grosvenor.  Among the mares currently in foal to Dundeel is Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan’s Sara Ann who, like Purrfect Deal, descends from Grosvenor’s dam My Tricia.

Dundeel has seen only two mares by Tale of the Cat and both have produced stakeswinners beyond 2000 metres: Purrfect Deal and VRC St Leger LR winner Transact.  

Bred by Michael Hadley’s Balance Thoroughbreds, Purrfect Deal has returned a healthy multiple of the price Michael Costa paid for her when she was offered by vendor Cinque Cavalli in 2018. That was at the same Inglis Classic Sale which produced Dundeel’s dual Group 1-winning son Castelvecchio, now standing alongside him at Arrowfield. 

Latest news

Snitzel blitzes 2YO trans-Tasman features Snitzel blitzes 2YO trans-Tasman features

Blitzburg in Sydney & Return to Conquer in Auckland earned trans-Tasman headlines for Australia's pre-eminent active sire of juveniles....

READ MORE

Dundeel’s daughter & sire son star in NZ Dundeel’s daughter & sire son star in NZ

Dundeel's daughter Konasana and sire son Super Seth made a big impact on New Zealand's $5 million Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie...

READ MORE

Make it Legendary at Inglis Classic Make it Legendary at Inglis Classic

Build your own legend with an Arrowfield Inglis Classic yearling - a precocious 2YO or a Group 1 3YO miler, a filly with high residual value or an elite colt...

READ MORE