Dundeel’s daughters do the business in 2025/26

Dundeel’s daughters, headed by his 10th Group 1 winner Idle Flyer, dominated his 2025/26 season.

In fact, fillies & mares have supplied 14 of his latest 20 stakes wins, and five other stakes performers last season, much as the daughters of his sire High Chaparral began to fill his black type record at a similar stage of his career.

The Matthew Smith-trained Idle Flyer’s 4YO season was one of rapid progress, beginning with a first-up win at Randwick, before landing the Angst S. G3. She returned from a Summer break to take out the Emancipation S. G2 and defeat multiple Group 1 winners Lady Shenandoah, Treasurethe Moment & Pride Of Jenni in the 1600-metre Queen Of The Turf S. G1 on Day 2 of The Championships. 

That earned her a Timeform rating of 119, bettered by only four previous winners of the race this century. And with earnings of $1.2 million she joins Dundeel’s daughters Hope In Your Heart & She’s Ideel on his list of millionaires. 

“Fantastic to win on her, I love her as a horse and that just shows in our record together. For her to go into that race, it was a proper horse race against the best milers in the country. They’ve got a proper horse on their hands.”
 – Idle Flyer’s jockey Zac Lloyd after her Queen Of The Turf S. G1 victory

The Hayes-trained Stung, a Listed winner in Adelaide, joined the likes of Group 1 SA Derby winner Femminile and Group winners Cinch, Jasmin Rouge, Konasana & Litzdeel – all stakes-winning 3YO fillies by Dundeel – while 4YO Group 1 performer Polymnia added three Group placings to her record. 

Dundeel’s 7 male stakes performers last season included Tavs, a dual Listed winner in Queensland, triple Group 1 winner Militarize (3rd, Doncaster Mile G1), Deal Done Fast (3rd, Victoria Derby G1) and Inspired Legend, set to race in Hong Kong after his third in the Queensland Derby G1. 

After cracking A$11 million prizemoney for the 4th consecutive season, Dundeel has held his place among Australia’s top 10 active sires, and is now the main anchor of the High Chaparral sire-line downunder, with three Group 1-winning sons at stud, two of them already Group 1 sires. They are attracting plenty of attention this year, thanks to Castelvecchio’s spectacular daughter Aeliana, Coolmore’s purchase of Super Seth from Waikato Stud, and this Spring’s first foals by two-time Group 1 winner Celestial Legend.

In the sale-ring, demand for Dundeel’s yearlings produced a $235,270 average for 48 lots sold at Australia’s four major Sales (Magic Millions Gold Cold Coast, Inglis Easter, Classic & Premier). They included his 4th seven-figure yearling, the colt out of multiple Group winner Fiesta, purchased for $1.3 million by Jamie McCalmont for Tom Magnier. He was one of the dozen Dundeel yearlings sold for $300,000 or more.

Continued strong support from Arrowfield and other ANZ breeders gives Dundeel 223 foals, bred at $82,500 & $88,000, in his next two crops coming on stream (yearlings & 2YOs of 2026/27).

Will he build on his 40 stakeswinners and regular success in Australia’s major Classics, miles & weight-for-age races? Consider it a done deal!