Dundeel quickly off the mark

Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Dundeel was successful on debut and his first winner as a sire has now followed suit.

By High Chaparral, Dundeelwon at Ellerslie as a juvenile to kick-start a glittering career that netted six Group One victories subsequent to his retirement to Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales.

Dundeel’s son Cutadeel, who is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, emulated his sire at the first time of asking on Friday when he triumphed in the Matamata Veterinary Services 2YO (1200m) at Tauranga.

“It’s obviously a great result for Murray, who trained Dundeel,” Forsman said.

Cutadeel had placed in both of his lead-up trials, the second of them at Cambridge last month in the hands of Jonathan Riddell, who retained the mount at Tauranga.

They settled in second spot and the gelding finished determinedly in the straight to beat his stablemate Thomas Aquinas.

“There was plenty in his trials to encourage us,” Forsman said. “I’m not sure he’s a natural two-year-old type, but he is a really nice horse.”

He was also thrilled with the debut effort of Thomas Aquinas, who finished on well under rider Matt Cameron.

“I felt a bit sorry for him, he hasn’t had much exposure going this way around (clockwise),” Forsman said.

“He was a bit wayward up the straight so it was a good run.”

Cutadeel is part-owned by Mike and Sharyn Craig, who were part of the syndicate that raced Dundeel.