Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was a multiple Group 1 winner on the premier Sydney tracks and on Saturday his son Castelvecchio provided him with his first Australian winner at the highest level when producing a commanding performance to race away with the G1 Moet & Chandon Champagne S.
Dundeel is also the sire of New Zealand’s top 2-year-old Yourdeel (NZ), who is the dual Group 1 winner of the Sistema S. and the Manawatu Sires’ Produce S., while in South Africa another son Atyaab claimed the G1 Kenilworth Cape Derby.
His stakes winners to runners strike rate is an impressive 9.7 per cent.
A half-brother to the G1 Spring Champion S. winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile), Castelvecchio was a $150,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale buy for Octavio and Wendy Galletta, who entrusted their purchase to young Warwick Farm trainer Richard Litt. “This is a feeling I’ve never had, it’s huge for us and I’m delighted.” – Richard Litt.
The expatriate New Zealand horseman puts an overwhelming emphasis on quality and not quantity at his boutique stable and the Gallettas couldn’t have found a better home for their pride and joy.
“This is a feeling I’ve never had, it’s huge for us and I’m delighted,” Litt said.
Castelvecchio won his first two starts, including the Inglis Millennium, before he finished third in the G2 Skyline S. and was then third in the G1 Sires’ Produce S.
“We haven’t had any hiccups with his preparation,” Litt said. “We would have loved to have won the Sires, but that didn’t happen.
“There have been no moments where we’ve ever doubted ourselves and we’ve done the job and it’s been great.” – Richard Litt.
“It was two weeks into this run and we had great confidence he’d run well. We’ve just looked after him and all my staff look after the horses so well.
“There have been no moments where we’ve ever doubted ourselves and we’ve done the job and it’s been great.”
Litt is in no doubt that the very best will be seen of Castelvecchio next season as a 3-year-old.
“He’ll improve out of sight,” Litt said. “He’s got a lot of maturing to do, he’s only a small horse and he’ll have a break now and he’ll come back bigger and stronger I’m sure.”
“I’m thrilled, I truly am. I seem to live each emotion to extremes and I’m really buzzing.” – Josh Parr.
Castelvecchio has been ridden in all five of his runs this term by Josh Parr and he was ecstatic.
“I’m thrilled, I truly am. I seem to live each emotion to extremes and I’m really buzzing,” he said.
“The writing was on the wall for some time that the Champagne S. was his mark, his target.
“The 1600 metres at Randwick was ideal. There’s still a lot more to come from him, he’s only just learning his craft.”
Castelvecchio was able to settle closer to the pace than his been his custom with a hot speed set up by Lady Lupino (Sebring).
"There’s still a lot more to come from him, he’s only just learning his craft.” – Josh Parr.
Parr sat quietly before asking the colt to lengthen stride into the straight and he was dominant in the closing 200 metres.
“We jumped into a midfield position and he travelled like the winner the entire way. He won like a very, very good horse,” Parr said.
He also paid tribute to the conditioning skills of the former Hawera-based Litt.
“Full credit to Richard, what a great man he is and the job he has done with this horse is remarkable,” Parr said.
“Full credit to Richard, what a great man he is and the job he has done with this horse is remarkable.” - Josh Parr.
“We had that period where he had a six week break between the Skyline and the Sires. He’s been able to keep him up and peak him for the day.
“That’s a credit to Richard as a trainer, even better is all the support he’s got and that shows the type of man he is.”
There was also honour in defeat for the filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), who finished a gallant second. She was tasked with dragging the field up to the bold front-runner Lady Lupino, who stuck on bravely for third.
“With 2-year-olds, you take it a step at a time and I felt she improved out of the Slipper.” – Ciaron Maher.
Loving Gaby was a debut winner and her four subsequent starts have all been in Group 1 company, having finished sixth in the Blue Diamond S., fourth in the Golden Slipper S. and also second in the Sires’ Produce S.
“She has kept improving, manners-wise, and I thought she was going to run fifth in the Sires and lifted late,” co-trainer Ciaron Maher said.
“With 2-year-olds, you take it a step at a time and I felt she improved out of the Slipper.”
Castelvecchio is a son of the Listed Soliloquy S. winner St Therese (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), who is a half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner Planet Ruler (Kaouru Star).
Castelvecchio as a yearling
