A shot at the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March looms for Cutadeel, who became Dundeel's (NZ) first stakes-winner in New Zealand with success in the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Three Year Old Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday.
It was a significant success for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, who trained the sire in his stellar career and are now guiding the career of his talented son from his first crop.
“He’s a promising staying horse who had to do a bit then so it was a really good effort,” Murray Baker said. “He’s not overly big but he’s a neat horse and a good mover."
“It’s a thrill to train a stakes winner by Dundeel.”
“It’s a thrill to train a stakes winner by Dundeel.” - Trainer, Murray Baker
The connection to another of Baker and Forsman's Group 1 winners is also strong through this race, with Mongolian Khan (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) who won this on his way to the NZ Derby four years ago.
Dundeel
“It’s good that he has some Ellerslie experience now as he can certainly stay,” Baker said.
Jockey Opie Bosson brought Cutadeel to the outside at the top of the straight, but he had to endure a bumping duel about the 300m, before straightening up and running down Swords Drawn (Camelot {GB}) in the final few strides along with second placed Factor Me In (The Factor {USA}).
"He really picked up and fought right to the line.” - Jockey, Opie Bosson
“He got caught a little wide going into the first turn but he dropped the bit and relaxed beautifully,” Bosson said.
“He was always travelling nicely and we just had to get into the clear. As soon as I gave him a few with the stick and urged him on he really picked up and fought right to the line.”
Cutadeel winning the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Three Year Old Salver
Baker said he and Forsman would now plot a path towards the NZ Derby, with a long-term possibility that he could head to Australia to try and emulate his sire, who won the ATC Derby in 2013.
“We’ll work it out in the next couple of days but we’re hoping he can run in the Derby." - Murray Baker
“We’ll work it out in the next couple of days but we’re hoping he can run in the Derby,” he said.
The win came 24 hours after Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) was an impressive winner of a 2-year-old race by five and a quarter lengths at Te Rapa.
He is being set for the Karaka Million by trainer Jamie Richards.
Dundeel, who stands at Arrowfield, has had one stakeswinner in Australia in Irukandji.
