It’s A Dundeel displayed his Cox Plate credentials by ending the unbeaten record of Atlantic Jewel in Saturday’s $400,000 Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
After a quick start, Michael Rodd allowed Atlantic Jewel to stride forward and lead with James McDonald sending It’s A Dundeel to race outside the lead.
The race was run at steady tempo mid-race with It’s A Dundeel applying pressure to Atlantic Jewel prior to the home turn.
McDonald’s move proved decisive as the explosive Atlantic Jewel was overhauled in the shadows of the post.
It’s A Dundeel ($7.50), who is trained at Cambridge in New Zealand by Murray Baker, defeated Atlantic Jewel ($1.60) with Dear Demi ($71) finishing third.
“The instructions went straight out the window after they jumped…. I probably put my head on the chopping block by sending him forward,” McDonald said with a wide smile.
“He’s a different horse this prep. I loved how he just positioned up on the pace and when I was within striking distance of Atlantic Jewel I thought ‘this is what everyone just comes to see, a match race between two champions’.
“It was a dog-fight. I could see her (Atlantic Jewel) picking up the speed and I knew my horse would sustain a real good run to the line so I thought I’d put it to her 400 metres from home and make it a real test for her.
“Full credit to both horses, they battled it out really well,” McDonald added.
Baker was full of praise for McDonald post-race.
“I thought it was a brilliant ride from James (McDonald), there was no pace in the race and he took it to her (Atlantic Jewel),” Baker said.
“He went into the Memsie on a very short prep, he only had one jumpout.
“We thought he had improved vastily over the past couple of weeks but we didn’t think we could beat Atlantic Jewel at 1800 metres.
“It was a special race, they are both very good horses,” he added.
History was against Atlantic Jewel in attempting to win her tenth consecutive race from as many starts.
Atlantic Jewel was aiming to become the first mare to win the Underwood Stakes since Tristarc in 1985. However the daughter of Fastnet Rock from the Flemington stables of Mark Kavanagh joined the likes of Mannerism, Jezabeel and Miss Finland who could only manage minor placings.
“We were beaten by a very good horse and a beautiful ride,” Rodd said upon dismounting.
“We had a lovely run, I’m not going to make any excuses.”
It’s A Dundeel and Atlantic Jewel are set to clash again in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 12 under weight-for-age conditions.
That will serve as the final lead-up race for both horses before the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.
It’s A Dundeel has raced 14 times for nine wins and two placings with prizemoney now in excess of the $2.35 million mark.
– Racing Network
