It’s A Dundeel On Course For Triple Crown
Randwick Guineas winner It’s A Dundeel is on course for the Triple Crown and will go to post as favourite for the $500,000 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday.
The son of High Chaparral sparkled when scoring a stylish win in record time his first time in blinkers to land the first leg of the Triple Crown at Warwick Farm ten days ago. New Zealander Murray Baker trains the three-year-old and will keep the blinkers on the colt for the second leg in the 2000m Group 1 event this weekend.
It’s A Dundeel has four career wins from seven starts and was beaten favourite when finishing seventh behind Fivandahalfstar in the Victoria Derby at Flemington in November. Fitting blinkers seems to have focused Baker’s colt and son Bjorn, who takes care of the horse, confirmed he’ll be wearing them again in his next race.
“I’m really happy with him,” Bjorn Baker said.
“His work has been fantastic and he looks fantastic. The blinkers stay on for Saturday and everything is in order.”
A decision on whether Fiveandahalfstar will oppose will be made after work on Wednesday and with Bloddbuzz Ohio entered for a race at Caulfield, the second leg of the Triple Crown could be reduced to a field of eight by acceptance time.
It’s A Dundeel is the second winner of the Randwick Guineas for his sire, joining Shoot Out who went on to win the Australian Derby. The New Zealand-bred heads the market for the $1.5 million blue riband next month and although not as imposing as the stable’s 2008 Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu, Baker junior believes It’s A Dundeel has the all the attributes to be a stayer.
“People keep saying he’s small but he’s not tiny,” he said.
“He is a superbly balanced animal. He’s well balanced and put together well. He has the right conformation.”