Dundeel Colt Ready for Derby

Media Release - Tuesday October 27

While Flying Start Syndications Director Cameron Bennett is disappointed he won’t be able to be on course to watch Let’s Karaka Deel in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, he is over the moon to have a strong contender in the race.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt is one of the form horses of the field, having won and placed twice in his four career starts, including a last-start runner-up performance in the Gr.3 Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield.

Let’s Karaka Deel will contest the G1 Victoria Derby. Photo: Brendan McCarthy - Racing Photos

“It was a good lead-up run for him,” Bennett said.

“They didn’t go quick. We were hoping it was going to be more of a staying test, but they sprinted home and left him a bit flat-footed, and he did his best to just get beaten on the line.”

The Dundeel colt’s only unplaced run came in the Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) last month.

“We thought he should have won that,” Bennett said. “The jockey (John Allen) and trainers thought he was going good enough to win. We were a little frustrated there.”

Bennett is heading into this weekend full of excitement and he said he will be watching the race from his Queensland base.

“We think he is a good chance, the race is pretty even,” he said. “I thought he was going to win last start, but I don’t think there is much between them. He is one of a few chances.

“It would have been fantastic for everyone to go and have a good trip away. Unfortunately we won’t be there, but it’s good to have one in such a big race.”

Bennett purchased Let’s Karaka Deel out of Wentwood Grange’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $80,000 and he said he liked the colt the moment he saw him at Karaka.

“I always wanted a Dundeel,” he said. “I heard from a few trainers that they were going well. We looked at just about every horse in the sale and he just stood out from the moment we got him out.

Advertisement

“We liked him, put him on the short-list, and saw him another two or three times. I was always going to buy him, I just liked him from the start.”

Bennett also purchased promising three-year-old Oceanography that year out of Cambria Park’s Book 2 draft for $25,000, and he too has already tasted victory on the track.

That was the first year I went to Karaka,” Bennett said. “My bloodstock agent, Dave Mee from Pinhook Bloodstock, is from New Zealand and he had been trying to get me over there.

“I like buying middle-distance, staying horses, which is what I like and are not too common in Australia, they are harder to get here.

“I also bought Oceanography, he goes well too but we didn’t have too much luck in the Listed race (Super Impose Stakes, 1800m) he was in.

“He is spelling and they have got a pretty big opinion of him and think he will come back next year as a nice horse.

“So it was a great sale for us straight away.”

Bennett is also receiving good reports about his sole purchase from Karaka earlier this year.

“I bought another one this year as well, which they like as well,” he said. “It’s a Maurice filly and she is showing good signs.

“New Zealand is going to be my favourite spot soon.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
OTI Racing officially enters New Zealand market
OTI Racing is officially going trans-Tasman, with the Australian syndicator becoming a licensed New Zealand syndicator this week.
Wrote SW on Comeback Trail
Robbie Patterson had high Classic hopes for Read About It last season before his rising young star’s progress was halted by illness.
Briasa Boost as More Youngsters Impress on HIT Sale Eve
The timing couldn’t be better for a sale page's pedigree boost, with Briasa announcing himself as one of Australia’s most exciting sprinters following his dominant victory in Saturday’s $1 million Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
National Thoroughbred Week invites support through GoFundMe campaign
National Thoroughbred Week (NTW) is calling on the thoroughbred community and broader public to be part of history, with the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to help bring this inaugural celebration to life.
Sword of State 2YO Ready for Debut
A pair of promising youngsters are set to make their debut for Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby at Avondale on Wednesday, but track conditions may scupper plans for one of them.
2025 G1 Caulfield Guineas Field and Barrier Draw
A full field plus emergencies have accepted for the $3million Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday with Golden Rose runners Wodeton, Autumn Boy, Nepotism and Rivellino all engaged.
Two Highest Priced Yearlings in World This Year Highlight Tattersalls October Day 1
The opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw two colts realise 3,700,000 guineas and 3,600,000 guineas, both exceeding the highest price for a yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025, and five seven-figure lots.
Shamus Award Mare Chasing Another G1
Adverse weather has forced multiple Group One winner Quintessa to take an unorthodox route to next Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), with the mare appearing at the Awapuni trials on Monday afternoon.
Everest Runner/New G1 Horse for Hellbent as Invincible Legacy Surges
Hellbent has made a solid start to the new season with 25 winners racking up over $2million in earnings and he will have a runner in the $20million The Everest in two weeks time with Magic Time confirmed for the Inglis slot, while at Randwick last Saturday he added another G1 performer to his tally.
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.