Dundeel’s daughter & sire son star in NZ

New Zealand-bred, -owned & -trained though he was, Dundeel raced only once in his homeland, brilliantly winning his 2YO debut at Ellerslie in April 2012 before taking Australia by storm as a 6-time Group 1 winner at three & four.

Roll forward to 2025 Karaka Millions night at the same course and Dundeel’s stellar success as a sire and growing influence as a sire of sires are crystal clear. 

Billed as “an Aussie raiderette”, his 4YO daughter Konasana gave owner-breeder Debbie Kepitis and her family a special thrill with a hard-fought victory in the $600,000 Westbury Classic 1400m G2.

She is Dundeel’s 4th stakeswinner from only 40 New Zealand runners, after dual Group 1 2YO winner Yourdeel, Group 2 winner Aquacade & Listed winner Cutadeel.

The Australian raider Konasana comes to @Ellerslie_Races and takes home Race 3 – the @WestburyStud Classic.
Trained in Australia by New Zealand’s super-trainer @cwallerracing.
Ridden by Rory Hutchings, the mare won in a tight finish. Great racing, real excitement!@WorldPool pic.twitter.com/CGPqvuXWnN

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) January 25, 2025

A delighted Debbie Kepitis said, “We bred Konasana and she’s been wonderful for us. To come over to New Zealand with a plan and have it come off is great. It’s all down to the master, Chris Waller, and his amazing team.”

Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth shared the excitement. “It’s massive…It also means a lot to get this win for Woppitt Bloodstock with Debbie Kepitis and her family here. It’s pretty emotional stuff, really.

“We’ve always had a pretty good opinion of this mare. Her first Group win was on a wet track in the autumn, so we were delighted to see her do it on good ground in the Belle of the Turf and again today. She travelled over beautifully and looked an absolute picture today. I thought we’d have some fun today if she ran up to her looks.”

Konasana, now a three-time Group winner of $886,000 prizemoney, is the best of 3 winners so far left by the US-bred mare Posing (by Medicean), from the family of Champion 3YO Colt & Champion Sire Nathaniel and his Irish Oaks G1-winning sister Great Heavens. She is now a likely contender for the $600,000 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. G1 on 8 March. 

Dundeel’s impact on the night’s program continued in the very next race, the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO 1200m RL, won in dominant fashion by La Dorada, a daughter of Dundeel’s Waikato Stud-based son Super Seth.  

Bred & sold by Arrowfield, Super Seth won the 2019 Caulfield Guineas G1 and as New Zealand’s Champion First Season Sire of 2023/24, now with 5 SW from his first 56 runners, earned a fee rise to NZ$45,000 in 2024. It is surely only a matter of time before he joins Dundeel’s Arrowfield resident son Castelvecchio as a Group 1 sire. 

Dundeel is represented at all the major Australian & New Zealand yearling sales including Inglis Easter where Arrowfield’s offering features the full brother to Super Seth.