The Patrick Payne-trained Dunkel continued his upward trajectory as he showed an impressive burst of speed to win the South Australian Derby (G1) at Morphettville May 13, handing his sire Dundeel a seventh individual group 1 winner and second this season.
Ridden by Billy Egan, who was tasting group 1 glory for the first time, Dunkel came with a late flourish to nail long-time leader and pre-race favorite Promises Kept 50 meters from the line, eventually beating that rival by three-quarters of a length. Aberfeldie Boy was a further length and a half away in third.
Payne, who was not at Morphettville, instead choosing to oversee his runners at Flemington, added a fifth group 1 success to his CV, while he also won the South Australian Derby during his career as a jockey when he steered Bullwinkle to victory in 1994.
Dunkel’s rise to the top has been a steep one. Breaking his maiden on debut last October, the gelding strung together a four-race unbeaten stint in the summer, headlined by victories in the Launceston Guineas and Tasmanian Derby.
However, his winning run came to an abrupt end when he finished a disappointing ninth in the Alister Clark Stakes (G2) March 18, after which he was sent for a short spell in preparation for yesterday’s race, a plan part-owner Brandan Danaher was quick to praise Payne for.
“It’s very special,” said Danaher. “All credit to Patrick—a fantastic training effort. (Dunkel) hasn’t run for two months and it’s a terrific training job he’s done with him.
“He’s an amazing horse and it’s been amazing the way he’s won. We’ve had a wonderful association and credit Patrick the whole thing. We couldn’t thank him enough, he’s just fantastic.”
Egan said he was confident throughout the race and kept the faith when Promises Kept surged clear in the straight.
“When we left the straight the first time I was like, ‘This is gonna be easy. I’ll just sort of sit one off, bide my time and go.’ Then we got shuffled back and we had to work our way through them,” said Egan.
“He’s got that killer instinct and every horse out there he wants to pass, and that’s what he did. The further we got into the straight, the more my bloke tried, and he wanted to pass it.
“Thanks to (Patrick) and the whole team, it’s not just my first group 1, it’s all of ours together. We’ve been a team for a long time, so I’m just really happy we can enjoy it as a team.”
Bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds, Dunkel (Dundeel—Kudamm by Cape Cross) was bought by Steven Ramsey for NZ$40,000 (US$24,766) at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2021, before being snapped up by Kevin Myers for NZ$100,000 (US$61,915) at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale later that year.
The gelding is out of the listed-placed Cape Cross mare Kudamm, making him half brother to a further five winners. Further back in his pedigree, this is the same family as dual elite-level winner Zoman.
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