Dundeel – The Evidence & his Influence
Dundeel's influence continues to grow after a season of many highlights including his 9th Group 1 winner, two Group 1-siring sons and a millonaire 2YO filly out of a Dundeel mare. (PHOTO: Joan Faras)
At the end of the 2023/24 season Dundeel’s stud record was already outstanding: 55 stakes performers, 30 stakeswinners, 8 Group 1 winners (3 of them 2YOs).
A year later, his impact on Australasian racing has significantly broadened and deepened as Dundeel’s pivotal role in the powerhouse Sadler’s Wells/High Chaparral dynasty becomes clear.
It’s a role for which he was an odds-on choice, as a direct son of High Chaparral from a Zabeel mare; as a superlative Classic and weight-for-age performer and 6-time Group 1 winner from 1600m to 2400m; and as the conqueror of the likes of Atlantic Jewel, Sacred Falls, Dear Demi, Silent Achiever & Proisir.
As his trainer Murray Baker said, “He had such a turn of foot and natural speed” – assets Dundeel now transmits to his progeny who apply them with devastating effect at distances from 1200m to 2500m.
Just take a look at Castelvecchio’s Inglis Millennium & Champagne Stakes, Militarize’s Golden Rose, Super Seth’s Caulfield Guineas, Celestial Legend’s Doncaster Mile & Femminile’s South Australian Derby.
Here’s what happened in 2024/25:
- Dundeel’s 10 Australian stakeswinners made him one of only six stallions to achieve double-figure stakeswinners for the season, putting him in the company of Champion Sires Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Zoustar and Written Tycoon.
- And 7 of them were fillies & mares: G1 winner Femminile, Group winners Konasana, Cinch, Litzdeel, Mare of Mt Buller & Jasmin Rouge, and Listed winner Deel Her In.
- Femminile was subsequently sold for $1.5 million to Yulong Investments, and the $400,000 Dundeel filly ex Pretty Elsa (by Exceed And Excel) was the top-priced filly at the Inglis Classic Sale.
Dundeel’s top-priced yearling of 2025 was the colt ex Stay With Me, sold at Inglis Easter for $750,000.
- Dundeel’s first two sons at stud, Castelvecchio (standing at Arrowfield) & Arrowfield graduate Super Seth (at Waikato Stud) made a major impact on Australasian racing with 12 stakeswinners and 6 Group 1 winners between them. A third Group 1-winning son of Dundeel, Celestial Legend, also bred and sold by Arrowfield, has joined the Woodside Park roster in 2025.
- 2YO filly Within The Law, out of Dundeel’s daughter Contract Signed, showed brilliance and consistency as she compiled $1.4 million prizemoney, victories in the Sweet Embrace S. G2 and two valuable Inglis Restricted Listed Races, plus a 2nd in the Champagne S. G1. She is the 3rd SW and 2nd G1 performer from Dundeel’s first 30 runners as a broodmare sire.
Dundeel’s influence on the 2024/25 season is best illustrated by this table, listing all the Group & Listed Races in which his own performers, as well as the progeny of his sire sons and broodmare daughters, have won or placed since 1 August 2024:
