Dundeel’s half-brother wins impressively

Dundeel’s 4YO half-brother Diehard won at Pukekohe, New Zealand on Wednesday in the manner of a horse likely to make an impact over middle distances this season.

It was the fourth start for the son of Pour Moi and Stareel and capped his progress from educational 2YO start last December and two placings last month to stylish maiden winner.

Racing over 1600 metres on heavy ground, he settled back before improving wide around the turn. As his rivals began to struggle, Diehard began to do his best work and  picked up gamely to score by more than four lengths from Avant and Florence Ivy.

Watch Diehard win at Pukekohe.

Diehard’s owners include Arrowfield, Paul Favretto, Greg Ingham and his breeder Waimarama NZ Ltd, comprising several members of Dundeel’s racing partnership. He is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman who also prepared Dundeel to win six Group 1 races. 

Stareel has a 2YO colt by Redoute’s Choice, bought by Paul Perry for $1 million from Arrowfield’s Inglis Easter draft and a yearling filly by Redoute’s Choice that’s now in New Zealand. The now 17-year-old mare is due to foal again to the three-time Champion Sire this Spring. 

Like Dundeel, Pour Moi is a Derby-winning grandson of Sadler’s Wells who has left two Group 1 winners, 2YO Sacred Elixir in Australia, and this year’s Epsom Derby winner Wings Of Eagles in England.  

Fifty-three yearlings from Dundeel’s first crop sold for an average of $132,330, just over five times his fee, and he was the Magic Millions Leading First Crop Sire with an average price of $272,500. His top-priced yearling, the Miss Finland colt, was sold for $900,000 to Boomer Bloodstock and is in training with Bjorn Baker. 

Other stables with Dundeel 2YOs on the books include Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Chris Waller, Kris Lees, Anthony Freedman, Ciaron Maher and Mick Kent.