Deal is Done for Arrowfield

Pictured: Five-time Group 1 winner It's A Dundeel (PHOTO: Steve Hart)

The Transtasman Syndicate, which owns five-time Group 1 winner It’s A Dundeel (High Chaparral-Stareel, by Zabeel), announced today that its champion entire will stand at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley of NSW in 2014, after he has finished racing. Syndication of the stallion will be considered at a later time.

The sensational 4YO, who defeated 10 Group 1 winners in Saturday’s MRC Underwood S. 1800m G1, will continue his Spring campaign for the Transtasman Syndicate. He remains in the care of trainer Murray Baker and his major target is the MVRC W.S. Cox Plate G1 on 26 October.

Arrowfield’s Chairman John Messara says, "It’s A Dundeel’s pedigree combines the brilliance and classic stamina of Sadler’s Wells and Zabeel infused with the incomparable speed of Luskin Star to create a racehorse of superlative quality over a range of distances.

"It’s A Dundeel’s Underwood success - his fifth Group 1 win - highlights both his weight-for-age class and the turn of foot he had previously demonstrated in his emphatic seven-length victory in the Rosehill Guineas. He is indeed the real deal."

It’s A Dundeel won his debut over 1200 metres in New Zealand as a 2YO and was sent to Sydney last Spring. He won all four of his starts there, culminating in an outstanding performance in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000 metres at Randwick.

He returned in the Autumn to claim the Randwick Guineas (1600m) in race record time, the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Australian Derby (2400m). He is the first horse in history to win all four of Sydney’s Group 1 open 3YO events.

It’s A Dundeel was subsequently awarded an international rating of 120. That confirmed him as the world’s equal best 3YO in the middle-distance category on the official Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings (to 9 June 2013). He was also the 2012/13 Champion New Zealand 3YO & New South Wales Champion Horse of the Year.

Murray Andersen, his breeder and part-owner, says, "We’re delighted that Arrowfield has agreed to stand It’s A Dundeel, because it secures his place on a major Australian stallion roster that will give him the opportunity he deserves."