Saturday summary: Dunkel charges late to win South Australian Derby

Cover image courtesy of Atkins Photography

Dunkel plan pays off

The Patrick Payne-trained Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) was the sole representative for his trainer in the G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville. It had been almost 30 years since Payne won the South Australian Derby on Bullwinkle (Bellotto {USA}), and on Saturday, Payne added his name to the winning trainers' list.

Dunkel’s racing style gives his supporters hearts-in-mouth sort-of feelings. Settling towards the back of the field, the son of Dundeel (NZ) likes to power home, often reeling off impressive finishing sectionals and on Saturday, with Billy Egan aboard, he did just that.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Promises Kept (Cluster) looked to be the winner, breaking clear at the top of the straight; Group 1 glory appeared to be his, but along the rail and under riding, Dunkel was charging and about to spoil the party to narrowly defeat Promises Kept by 0.70l, the honest Aberfeldie Boy (So You Think {NZ}) ran into third.

Celebrating his first Group 1 victory, co-owner Brendan Danaher told Racing.com, “Very, very special. This horse hasn’t run for two months, and the plan was this race all along, so a great training effort by Patrick Payne.

“I have known Patrick for a long time, and this caps a wonderful association.”

The race also provided Billy Egan with his first Group 1 victory, “When we left the straight the first time, I thought,' this will be easy’, but we got shuffled back, and so we had to work our way through. Dunkel has a killer instinct. You can feel him wanting to pass every horse in front of him.

“I never was confident when Promises Kept kicked clear, but my bloke just tried harder and harder and wanted to pass him.”

Dunkel is the sixth foal from the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Kudamm. She was stakes-placed during her career, and Dunkel is her best produce to date.

The 3-year-old gelding becomes the seventh individual Group 1 winner for the Arrowfield Stud-based Dundeel and the second Group 1 winner this season, having the dual Group 1-winning juvenile Militarize (NZ) flying the flag during the autumn.

Dundeel will stand the 2023 breeding season at a fee of $82,500 (inc GST).

Dunkel was a NZ$100,000 ready-to-run purchase by KT Myers from the draft of Ohukia Lodge at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

‘Have a look at Giga Kick!’ - Star adds Doomben 10,000

The margin wasn’t significant, it was narrow - but how the Clayton Douglas-trained Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) went about his business in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday was nothing less than impressive.

Incredibly, Giga Kick is still a 3-year-old and even more so, the Doomben 10,000 was only his 10th start, yet the son of Scissor Kick has already scaled the highest mountains.

A last-start winner of the G1 All Aged S. over 1400 metres and a winner of The Everest in the spring, the G1 Doomben 10,000 is the second Group 1 victory for the champion.

Giga Kick, with regular partner Craig Williams in the saddle, eyeballed the in-form Overpass (Vancouver) and denied ‘The Quokka’ winner by 0.45l with the ever-consistent Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) running third.

Craig Williams told Thoroughbred Central, “Giga Kick is such a good horse. I am so lucky.

“Clayton was very confident, and his job with Giga Kick is phenomenal — the time he has spent nurturing this horse.

“They ran a fast time, and I think the fight with Overpass was good and tough. But I think there was plenty in the locker. When I trialled Giga Kick the other day, I told him to ‘put his wings away’ because he felt like a pegasus.”

Giga Kick’s dam, the Listed-winning Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), having previously produced Lago Ovation (Encosta De Lago) who is the dam of G1 CF Orr S. winner turned Yulong Stud-based stallion Alabama Express.

Special Swey books Derby ticket

The G3 Rough Habit at Doomben on Saturday was rocked with the scratching of the hot favourite Chris Waller-trained Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}); however, stablemate Special Swey (NZ) (Sweynesse) filled his shoes and booked his ticket to the G1 Queensland Derby later in May.

With Tyler Schiller aboard, the gelding was unwanted by punters, but that mattered little. With a bold front-running display, the son of Sweynesse proved the best stayer in the race, winning by 1.50l from The Vowels (Better Than Ready) and Stroke Of Luck (Fastnet Rock).

Special Swey is the first foal from the Per Incanto (USA) mare Mia Mamma (NZ). Despite her sire being known for throwing speedy sprinters, winning Derbys is arguably ‘in the blood’ with the multiple Derby winner and G1 Sydney Cup-winning Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) and the late Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) who won the G1 New Zealand Derby.

Special Swey becomes the sixth stakes winner for the Novara Park Stud-based Sweynesse, who still stand the 2023 breeding season for NZ$10,000 (plus GST).

The 3-year-old gelding was passed in for NZ$50,000 when offered by Ohukia Lodge at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Ohukia Lodge also consigned the G1 South Australian Derby winner Dunkel in their 2021 draft.

Dalasan’s little sister takes Adelaide Guineas

The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas stable was already enjoying a good day, having claimed the G3 Sires’ Produce S. with Air Assault (Justify {USA}), and they struck again to claim the Listed Adelaide Guineas with a half-sister to their former star Dalasan.

Three-year-old filly Party Princess (So You Think {NZ}) backed up from a solid effort in the G1 Australasian Oaks in the Listed Adelaide Guineas over 1600 metres. With Jason Holder in the saddle, she ran out an authoritative winner by 3l from Wine Barron (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and Ballon D’or (Lord Of The Sky) in third.

Party Princess becomes the 52nd stakes winner for the Coolmore Stud-based So You Think (NZ). So You Think will stand the 2023 breeding season for $99,000 (inc GST).

Party Princess was a $300,000 yearling purchase by Macdonald Gluyas Racing from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Majestic Shot an emotional winner for Allard

The Grant Allard-trained Majestic Shot (Shooting To Win) was a narrow winner of the Listed Magic Millions Bright Shadow S. over 1100 metres at Doomben on Saturday.

The daughter of Shooting To Win with Andrew Mallyon in the saddle was able to beat Extremist (Extreme Choice) by 0.38l and Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) further away in third.

In winning her stakes race, an emotional Grant Allard said: “Everything has gone wrong with the stable for the past 12 months. It has been a transition. I have been part of bigger wins and looked after champions like Lonhro, but some just mean more than others, and this win is right up there.

“It was a great ride. It’s just great. I thank everybody that has stuck by me. I haven’t trained a winner for 12 months, I have been sending horses around that couldn’t beat the ambulance, but I went back to the basics, which means so much.”

Majestic Shot is the fifth foal from the unraced Viscount mare Curtsey. Majestic Shot is the best runner to date from Curtsey.

She becomes the 10th stakes winner for Shooting To Win, who stands at Oakland Park Stud in Western Australia, a 2023 service fee has yet to be announced.

Majestic Shot was a bargain $11,000 yearling purchased by Grand Syndicates and J Price from the draft of Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Red Card delivers in Denise's Joy

The James Cummings-trained Red Card (Ribchester {Ire}) ran a dominant winner of the Listed Coolmore Denise’s Joy S. over 1100 metres at Scone.

The daughter of Ribchester (Ire), with Sam Clipperton aboard, was one of four Godolphin representatives in the Listed race, however at the finish, she was the one taking honours by 2.56l from Written In Code (I Am Invincible) and stablemate Ojai (Exceed And Excel) finishing third.

Red Card is the first foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Penalty. She was a winner during her career and from the family of G3 Widden S. winner Amercement (Lonhro). Godolphin Australia later sold Penalty at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Yulong for $20,000.

The filly becomes the second stakes winner for Ribchester in Australia, following Krakarib, who claimed the G3 Maribyrnong Plate.

More Prophets takes out Dark Jewel Classic

While six Scone-based trainers claimed success across the two days, the Randwick-based John Thompson walked away with one of the biggest prizes.

Thompson sent his Listed-winning mare More Prophets (Smart Missile) to contest Saturday’s G3 Dark Jewel Classic at Scone.

With apprentice Reece Jones aboard, the 6-year-old won by 1.23l from Bring The Ransom (Sebring), with Short Shorts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) running third.

“More Prophets is a nice mare, and today she finally drew a gate. She’s been going super no luck, wide draws, wet tracks and today we have been rewarded,” said Thompson.

“Last year she went to stud and didn’t get in foal. I think she will go back this year, but when, that is up to the owners.”

Smart Missile will stand the 2023 breeding season at Twin Hills Stud for a fee of $13,200 (inc GST).

More Prophets was offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling but was passed in.