The three-year-old triple crown is alive with It’s a Dundeel claiming his second consecutive leg of the crown, the Group 1 $500,000 MJ Bale Rosehill Guineas on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.
In doing so, the colt could become the first to complete the three-year-old triple crown since Octagonal in 1996, and the first for the modern set since the Canterbury Guineas (1900m) was replaced by the Randwick Guineas (1600m) in 2006.
More than 10,200 people were on course to soak up a glorious day of racing and on-course entertainment.
In the day’s feature race, NZ jockey James McDonald showed patience on the $1.30 race favourite with It’s a Dundeel positioned awkwardly for the first half of the 2,000m contest. Once in the clear around the home turn, the three-year-old colt put paid to the rest of the field, streaking clear to be victorious by 5 lengths.
Trainer Murray Baker also admitted post race that he was a little nervous with the horse being placed second last more than 1,000m into the race but he was well aware that his charge had plenty left in the tank.
“We know he’s got a big sprint and he can sustain it,” Baker said to awaiting media.
An ecstatic McDonald said “I was in an awkward spot, but he was clearly the best horse.”
It’s a Dundeel will now target the final leg of the triple crown, the Group 1 David Jones Australian Derby at Royal Randwick on Saturday 13 April.
Source : Australian Turf Club
