Dundeel’s latest winner, Sheikh Hamdan’s 2YO colt Atyaab, pictured as a yearling at Arrowfield. (PHOTO: Georgie Lomax)

Dundeel colt wins in South Africa

Champions Day at Turffontein in South Africa supplied Dundeel’s third winner when 2YO colt Atyaab ran away from his rivals in Saturday’s The Citizen Juvenile Plate.

Trained by Mike de Kock for Sheikh Hamdan, Atyaab was third on debut five weeks ago and clearly relished the 1600-metre task he was given this time as Callan Murray drove him through on the rail to score comfortably from Senor Lizard and last-start winner Cyber Special. 

Atyaab was bred and offered by Arrowfield at the 2017 Inglis Easter Sale where Shadwell Stud’s Racing Manager Angus Gold purchased him for $260,000.  He is out of the excellent dual Group 2 winner Sylvaner (by Danehill’s son Danasinga), also the dam of Listed winner Vesper, Sydney winner Schedule and two other winners. 

Sylvaner has a yearling full sister to Atyaab and is again in foal to the six-time Group 1 winner. 

Dundeel has now recorded winners from his first 10 runners in three countries: Group 3 winner Irukandji (out of a General Nediym mare) in Australia, Cutadeel (out of a Dylan Thomas mare) in New Zealand and Atyaab in South Africa. 

The 15 Dundeel yearlings sold at Magic Millions Gold Coast and Inglis Easter in 2018 averaged 7 times his fee, with a top price of $500,000 paid by Carmel Size Racing for the Inglis Easter colt out of Joy Ride (by Redoute’s Choice).