Epimeles is super-diligent at Flemington
At his second start, 2YO colt Epimeles delivers the 9th stakes win of this season for his brilliant sire Dundeel. (PHOTO: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)
Dundeel’s record as a sire of quality juveniles was extended on 25 April at Flemington when his son Epimeles strode to victory in the $175,000 VRC Anzac Day S. 1400m LR, a month after his debut win at Sandown.
He is the 28th career stakeswinner for Dundeel, his third stakeswinner this month (after G1 winner Celestial Legend and G3 winner Konasana) and his 6th 2YO stakeswinner.
Epimeles is named with historical aptness, as the first foal of Apicius (by Redoute’s Choice), a winning grand-daughter of Champion New Zealand Filly & multiple Australian Group 1 performer Princess Coup. Apicius is a 5th century collection of Roman cookery recipes, organised in ten books with Greek titles. Book 1 is Epimeles – The Diligent.
EPIMELES is SW28 for Dundeel in the Anzac Day Stakes & his second inbred to Zabeel, interestingly both Epimeles & Sunsets out of mares by sons of Danehill 🧐@busuttin @JohnnyA_24 @OhukiaLodge @mmsnippets @ArrowfieldStud #ANZACDay pic.twitter.com/VnREc4YS4p
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) April 25, 2024
Sam Griggs, representing Epimeles’ trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, indicated that the stable’s focus is firmly on next season.
“It’s been in the back of our mind a race like the JJ Atkins but we think we’ve got a spring three-year-old and we’ve just got to work out the best way to approach that as we’re not in a hurry.”
“We’ve always had belief in his ability. It’s fantastic to deliver terrific long-time stable clients a result.”
Epimeles’ large group of owners include Seymour Bloodstock, Australian UFC star Jack Jenkins and Mark Pilkington who joined Ohukia Lodge to buy him for $130,000 from breeder Evergreen Stud at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
His dam Apicius has subsequently produced a So You Think colt & a filly by Ole Kirk, and is now in foal to Maurice.
Daughters of Danehill’s sons have a notable strike rate with Dundeel, producing 17 stakes performers from 199 runners bred on that pattern. They include Group 1 winners Super Seth & Atyaab, and G1 performers Hit The Shot, Miracle Of Love, Sunsets & Tannhauser.
Currently 7th on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership, Dundeel heads the 3YO Sires’ table, thanks largely to Group 1 winners Celestial Legend (Randwick Guineas & Doncaster Mile) and Militarize (Golden Rose S.), and the Group 3-winning pair Sunsets & Konasana.
At the three-quarter mark of 2023/24, the Champion son of High Chaparral is on track to surpass his career-best Australian season earnings total of $13.4 million.
