Dundeel colt wins G3 Caulfield Classic

Caulfield Classic G3 winner Sunsets is Dundeel's 8th stakeswinner this year and now heads to the Victoria Derby G1. (PHOTO: Darren Tindale)

Dundeel kicked off a Group-winning treble for Arrowfield sires on Cup Day at Caulfield when his 3YO son Sunsets put up a great fight to defeat odds-on favourite Riff Rocket in the $200,000 Caulfield Classic 2000m G3.

He becomes Dundeel’s 25th individual stakeswinner and a $5 chance for the $2 million Victoria Derby G1 on 4 November.

Sunsets’ jockey John Allen said, “There was no pressure. He always travelled comfortably. He gave a good kick on the corner.”

Co-trainer Natalie Young added, “He’s just the most relaxed colt you’ll come across, he just goes to sleep in the stalls… gets here on raceday, doesn’t get himself worked up and brings his A game…don’t you love it when you have a live Derby chance!”

Sunsets, seen here as a yearling, is Dundeel’s 14th stakes performer out of a mare by a son of Danehill. (PHOTO: Inglis/Newhaven Park)

Bred by John & Deb Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, Sunsets is the third foal and first stakeswinner out of Waterloo Sunset (by Fastnet Rock), a Group-placed half-sister of Australasian Oaks G1 winner Invest, both out of of Flight S. G1 winner Unearthly.

He was sold first as a Magic Millions weanling and then purchased for $150,000 by Group 1 Bloodstock & Busuttin Racing from Newhaven Park Stud’s Inglis Melbourne Premier draft.  Sunsets races in the familiar colours of leading owner Ozzie Kheir, John O’Neill and partners and will now aim to join their imposing list of Group 1 winners including Arrowfield graduates Hitotsu & Tagaloa. 

Latest news

Dundeel – his best season yet Dundeel – his best season yet

Dundeel has continued his rise in 2023/24 with $15.9 million total prizemoney, 148 winners, 9 stakeswinners & two smashing Group 1 colts...

READ MORE

The Autumn Sun – great things come in threes The Autumn Sun – great things come in threes

Few stallions make the kind of impact that The Autumn Sun made this season with three first-crop 3YO Group 1 Classic winners in three weeks...

READ MORE

Snitzel – superlative sire of 2YOs Snitzel – superlative sire of 2YOs

Fourteen 2YO winners, 5 of them at Group & Listed level, in 2023/24 extend Champion Sire Snitzel's outstanding record as a source of precocious talent...

READ MORE