Dundeel

{{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Dundeel | image_name = Racing_silks_of_Arrowfield_Stud.png | caption =Racing colours of Arrowfield Stud | sire = [[High Chaparral]] | dam = Stareel | sex = [[Stallion]] | foaled = 18/11/2009 | country = [[New Zealand]] | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] | breeder = Murray & Jo Andersen | owner = Arrowfield It's A Dundeel Syndicate | trainer = [[Murray Baker]] & Andrew Forsman | jockey = [[James McDonald (jockey)|James McDonald]] | record = 19: 10-4-1 | earnings = AU$5,392,165 | race = [[Gloaming Stakes]] (2012) [[Spring Champion Stakes]] (2012) [[Randwick Guineas]] (2013) [[Rosehill Guineas]] (2013) [[Australian Derby]] (2013) [[Underwood Stakes]] (2013) [[Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)|Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] (2014) | awards= [[New Zealand Horse of the Year|New Zealand Champion Racehorse of the Year]] (2014) New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's Champion Middle Distance Horse (2014) [[Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse]] (2014) NSW Champion Horse of the Year (2013) NSW Champion Three-Year-Old (2013) New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's Champion Three-Year-Old (2013) [[New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame]] (2025)

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'''Dundeel''', or '''It’s A Dundeel''' as he was registered for racing in Australia, is a champion New Zealand [[Thoroughbred]] [[racehorse]]. He is the fifth and most recent winner of the [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#Australia|Australian Triple Crown]].

In 2025 Dundeel was inducted into the [[New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racinghalloffame.co.nz/blog/post/144027/dundeel-to-be-inducted-to-new-zealand-racing-hall-of-fame/|title=Dundeel to be inducted to New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame|website=Dundeel to be inducted to New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame | NZ Racing Hall of Fame}}</ref>

==Background== Dundeel is a bay colt trained by [[Murray Baker]] and Andrew Forsman at Murray's Cambridge stables.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bakerracing.co.nz/ |title=Baker Racing |publisher=Bakerracing.co.nz |date= |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> When in Australia Dundeel was managed by son Bjorn Baker at his Warwick Farm stables. The story of his life is provided on his [http://www.therealdeel.com.au/the-story.html website].

His sire [[High Chaparral]] won [[Epsom Derby]] in 2002 and the [[Breeders' Cup Turf]] in 2002 and 2003. As a stallion, he is best known as the sire of [[So You Think]] among 23 Group 1 winners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arrowfield.com.au/stallions/dundeel/#pedigree |title=Dundeel-Pedigree |publisher=arrowfield.com.au |date= |access-date=2023-11-15}}</ref>

==Racing career== Dundeel started his racing career with five straight wins culminating in the 2012 [[Spring Champion Stakes]]. He had previously added to his unbeaten record with another win in the Group 3 [[Gloaming Stakes]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/Sydney/default.aspx?id=62069 |title=It's A Dundeel (NZ) wins Gloaming Stakes with ease |publisher=Thoroughbrednews.com.au |date=2012-09-22 |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> (1800m) also at Randwick in Sydney.

In the autumn of 2013 he became the first horse to win the coveted [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#Australia|Australian Triple Crown]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.races.com.au/2013/04/13/2013-australian-derby-results-winner-its-a-dundeel-completes-triple-crown/ |title=2013 Australian Derby Results – Winner It's A Dundeel Completes Triple Crown |publisher=Races.com.au |date=2013-04-13 |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> since [[Octagonal]] in 1996. He won the first leg in the 2013 [[Randwick Guineas]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.races.com.au/2013/03/16/its-a-dundeel-wins-2013-randwick-guineas/ |title=It's A Dundeel Wins 2013 Randwick Guineas |publisher=Races.com.au |date=2013-03-16 |access-date=2013-05-06 |archive-date=2013-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727141340/http://www.races.com.au/2013/03/16/its-a-dundeel-wins-2013-randwick-guineas/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> (1600m). This victory was followed up by a comfortable 6.8 length win in the 2013 [[Rosehill Guineas]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Ray Thomas in Sydney |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/its-a-dundeel-toys-with-rosehill-guineas-opposition-to-remain-on-course-for-triple-crown/story-fn67rc85-1226609474343 |title=It's A Dundeel toys with Rosehill Guineas opposition to remain on course for Triple Crown |publisher=Dailytelegraph.com.au |date=2013-03-30 |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> (2000m). He completed the [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#Australia|Australian Triple Crown]] in style with a 6 length win in the [[Australian Derby]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Ray Thomas |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/its-a-dundeel-thumps-his-atc-australian-derby-rivals-to-record-extraordinary-win/story-fn67rc85-1226619757957 |title=It's A Dundeel thumps his ATC Australian Derby rivals to record extraordinary win |publisher=Dailytelegraph.com.au |date=2013-04-13 |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> (2400m) and in doing so he also became the first ever to do so since the first leg moved from the [[Canterbury Guineas]] in 2006. He also becomes the first horse to win a clean sweep of the four major [[Group races|Group 1]] three-year-old races run in Sydney, having previously won the 2012 [[Spring Champion Stakes]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-06/spring-champion-at-randwick/4297816 |title=Spring Champion win a Dundeel |work=ABC News |date= 6 October 2012|access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> (2000m), an Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at [[Set Weights]], raced at the [[Randwick Racecourse]], [[Sydney]] with prize money of [[A$]]400,000. His fantastic three-year-old season was recognised in receiving the 2013 NSW Champion Horse of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racenet.com.au/news/92101/It%E2%80%99s-A-Dundeel-cleans-up-at-NSW-awards |title=It's A Dundeel Cleans up at NSW Awards |date= |access-date=2013-08-09}}</ref>

Dundeel continued to develop as a four-year-old and created history in becoming the first horse to beat the previously unbeaten [[Atlantic Jewel]] in the [[Group races|Group 1]] 2013 [[Underwood Stakes]] (1800m) at Caulfield in Melbourne and then proceeded to win the richest race to ever be run on a Sydney track in the $4M [[Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)|Queen Elizabeth Stakes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/2013092161093/Australia/It-s-A-Dundeel-Wins-WFA-Underwood-Stakes.html |title=It's A Dundeel Wins WFA Underwood Stakes |access-date=2013-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922230916/http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/2013092161093/Australia/It-s-A-Dundeel-Wins-WFA-Underwood-Stakes.html |archive-date=2013-09-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In reflecting on Dundeel's career, his trainer Murray Baker, and champion jockey James McDonald,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tab.co.nz/information/#news/2011-08-27/20102011-nz-thoroughbred-awards |title=TAB • News & Tips |publisher=Tab.co.nz |date= |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> who has partnered him in all but one start, both described Dundeel as the best horse they had ever trained and ridden respectively. Mick Kent, trainer of the [[Australian Derby]] runner-up Philippi, described Dundeel as “the best horse in Australia - as good as the mare ([[Black Caviar]])”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/its-a-dundeel-claims-autumn-triple-crown/story-e6frg7mf-1226619865070 |title=It's a Dundeel completes autumn Triple Crown |work=TheAustralian |publisher=The Australian |date= |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> [[Black Caviar]]'s breeder Rick Jamieson has described Dundeel as a champion and "the best three-year-old we have seen for a while."<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Roots |url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/we-ran-second-to-a-champion-20130413-2hs9e.html |title='We ran second to a champion' |publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2013-04-14 |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref>

His victory in the 2014 [[Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)|Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] earned him a Timeform rating of 129 at the conclusion of his racing career, which ranks him as the 21st equal highest rated Australian racehorse since the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/en/tf-rating-summary.asp?tfe=TFAll-aus|title=Racing And Sports|website=www.racingandsports.com.au}}</ref>

==Stud career== On 21 April 2014, two days after his victory in the [[Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ATC)|Queen Elizabeth Stakes]], it was announced that It's a Dundeel was to be retired to [[stud (animal)|stud]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84497/dundeel-retired-to-stand-at-arrowfield-stud|title=Dundeel Retired, to Stand at Arrowfield Stud}}</ref> This was met with mixed reactions as his trainer Murray Baker was of the opinion that the best was yet to come from the champion [[colt (horse)|colt]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/racing-no-doubts-left-hes-the-real-deal/66W7LMX6LMPDLEKO3AXRX6PGUU/?c_id=4&objectid=11241427|title=Racing: No doubts left - he's the real deal|date=April 18, 2014|website=NZ Herald}}</ref> and others were surprised that his stud fee was so modest given his achievements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racenet.com.au/remote/check_cookie.html?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.racenet.com.au%2Fnews%2F99689%2FStud-fee-is-a-Dundeel|title=Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips|website=racenet.com.au}}</ref>

[http://www.arrowfield.com.au/horses/dundeel.html Dundeel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503045109/http://www.arrowfield.com.au/horses/dundeel.html |date=2014-05-03 }} stands at [[Arrowfield Stud]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arrowfield.com.au/|title=Arrowfield Thoroughbred Studs Australia|date=May 11, 2025|website=Arrowfield}}</ref> the largest [[Australia]]n owned [[thoroughbred]] [[stud (animal)|stud]] farm.

===Notable stock===

''c = [[colt (horse)|colt]], f = [[filly]], g = [[gelding]]''

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! width="35px" | '''Foaled''' ! width="120px" | '''Name''' ! width="35px" | '''Sex''' ! width="120px" | '''Dam''' ! width="120px" | '''Dam Sire''' ! width="210px" | '''Major Wins''' |- | 2015 | Atyaab<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racenet.com.au/remote/check_cookie.html?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.racenet.com.au%2Fprofiles%2Fhorse%2Fatyaab-aus|title=Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips|website=racenet.com.au}}</ref> | c ||Sylvaner (NZ) ||Danasinga (Aus) | Cape Derby |- | 2015 | Truly Great<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breednet.com.au/horse/truly-great|title=TRULY GREAT horse profile, breeding, statistics, form guide and news | Breednet|website=www.breednet.com.au}}</ref> | g||Truly Special (Aus) ||[[Jeune]] (GB) | [[Kingston Town Classic]] |- | 2016 | Castelvecchio<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breednet.com.au/sire/castelvecchio|title=Castelvecchio - Stallion | Breednet|website=www.breednet.com.au}}</ref> | c|| St Therese (Aus) ||[[Dehere]] (USA) | [[Champagne Stakes (ATC)|Champagne Stakes]], [[Rosehill Guineas]] |- | 2016 | [[Super Seth]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breednet.com.au/sire/super-seth|title=Super Seth - Stallion | Breednet|website=www.breednet.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waikatostud.com/stallions/super-seth/|title=Super Seth – Waikato Stud|website=waikatostud.com}}</ref> | c|| Salutations (Aus) ||[[Redoute's Choice]] | [[Caulfield Guineas]] |- | 2016 | Yourdeel | g|| Miss Zapper (Aus) ||[[Red Ransom]] (USA) | [[Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes|Sistema Stakes]], [[Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes]] |- | 2019 | Dunkel | g|| Kudamm (Aus) ||[[Cape Cross (horse)|Cape Cross]] (Ire) | [[South Australian Derby]] |- | 2020 | Celestial Legend<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breednet.com.au/horse/celestial-legend|title=CELESTIAL LEGEND horse profile, breeding, statistics, form guide and news | Breednet|website=www.breednet.com.au}}</ref> | c||Sarraqa (Aus) ||[[Snitzel (horse)|Snitzel]] (Aus) | [[Randwick Guineas]], [[Doncaster Handicap|Doncaster Mile]] |- | 2020 | Militarize | c|| Amerindia (GB) ||[[Dubawi]] (Ire) | [[Sires' Produce Stakes (ATC)|Sires' Produce Stakes]], [[Champagne Stakes (ATC)|Champagne Stakes]], [[Golden Rose Stakes]] |- | 2021 | Femminile<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breednet.com.au/horse/femminile|title=FEMMINILE horse profile, breeding, statistics, form guide and news | Breednet|website=www.breednet.com.au}}</ref> | f|| Femme Fireball (Aus) ||[[Pierro (horse)|Pierro]] (Aus) | [[South Australian Derby]] |- | 2021 | Idle Flyer | f|| Progressive (Aus) || [[Street Cry]] (Ire) | [[Queen Of The Turf Stakes]] |- |}

==Pedigree== {{Pedigree |name = It's a Dundeel<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=8870203&registry=T&horse_name==Dundeel |title=It's a Dundeel pedigree |publisher=equineline.com |date=2012-05-08 |access-date=2013-05-06}}</ref> |f = [[High Chaparral]] |m = Stareel |ff = [[Sadler's Wells (horse)|Sadler's Wells]] |fm = Kasora |mf = [[Zabeel]] |mm = Staring |fff = [[Northern Dancer]] |ffm = [[Fairy Bridge (horse)|Fairy Bridge]] |fmf = [[Darshaan]] |fmm = Kozana |mff = [[Sir Tristram]] |mfm = Lady Giselle |mmf = Fiesta Star |mmm = Sweet Violet |ffff = [[Nearctic (horse)|Nearctic]] |fffm = [[Natalma]] |ffmf = [[Bold Reason]] |ffmm = Special |fmff = [[Shirley Heights (horse)|Shirley Heights]] |fmfm = Delsy |fmmf = [[Kris (horse)|Kris]] |fmmm = Koblenza |mfff = [[Sir Ivor]] |mffm = Isolt |mfmf = [[Nureyev (horse)|Nureyev]] |mfmm = Valderna |mmff = [[Luskin Star]] |mmfm = Very Merry |mmmf = In the Purple |mmmm = Sugar Doll |}}

==See also==

* [[Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand]] * [[Thoroughbred racing in Australia]]

==References==

[[Category:2009 racehorse births]] [[Category:Racehorses bred in New Zealand]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in New Zealand]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in Australia]] [[Category:Thoroughbred family 22-b]] [[Category:Australian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing winners]]