Grafton, Listed The Maclean Hotel Grafton Cup, $200,000, 2350m
Race summary
Purrfect Deal (Dundeel {NZ}) secured her first stakes success in a highly competitive edition of this middle distance feature.
The lightly raced mare settled in the box seat after stepping clean into stride under talented young hoop Ben Thompson.
From there, Thompson continued to stalk leaders Spencer (Pierro) and Happy Go Plucky (Pluck) before presenting between the pair on straightening.
Once asked the question, Purrfect Deal let down quickly to put up a margin on her rivals before holding out a fast-finishing Laure Me In (Ad Valorem {USA}) by 0.3l.
Parry Sound (Pierro) nosed out Berdibek (Dark Angel {Ire}) for third position after the latter was forced to plot a wide course from back in the field.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Balance Thoroughbreds, Purrfect Deal was a $16,000 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Book 2 purchase by New Breed Racing and Michael Costa via the draft of Cinque Cavalli.
She is the eighth and best-performed progeny of New Zealand Group 3 runner-up Our Kitty (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), who herself hails from the extended family of G1 South Australian Oaks runner-up Bon Cher (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and G3 Mannerism S. winner Typhoon Belle (Rory’s Jester).
Her final foal to hit the ground is a gelding by the name of Hinch’em Up (Hinchinbrook) born in 2017. She hasn’t been served since missing in 2018.
Purrfect Deal is her prominent sire Dundeel’s (NZ) fifth individual stakes winner this season. He is responsible for this year's G1 Kingstown Town Classic winner Truly Great and will stand this upcoming breeding season at Arrowfield Stud for a service fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
