Purchased online for just $10,000, the Symon Wilde-trained Gundec looked a Derby winner in the making when breaking his maiden in the Derby Trial (1800m) at Flemington last September.
He didn’t strike a blow behind Hitotsu in the famous Flemington classic, so a reduction in the distance has seen a revival in his form.
The 3yo son of Kermadc opened his stakes account in Saturday’s Listed Mitchelton Wines Bendigo Guineas (1400m).
Ridden by Joe Bowditch, Gundec kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the So You Think filly Asymmetrical by a half-length, with three-quarters of a length to the Maurice gelding Sharp Response in third.
“We bought him to run in the Derby. He got there, but we did a speed gene test on him and it showed that he might be better, more effective, over shorter trips, and we’ve trained him that way, and he’s been really sharp, Wild said.
“The first-up win was good, I think the favourite was following him but he showed a great turn of foot. Up to 1400 today he took the race by the scruff of the neck and he’s hard to get past.”
“We might just gradually go up in trip, I think there might be something over in Adelaide for him now he’s got a couple of wins and we’ll probably track that way.”
Bred by St Aubins Scone Partnership, Gundec was a $10,000 purchase at the 2020 Inglis August (Early) Online Sale. He was sold privately after impressing at his first two starts in Sydney.
The son of Kermadec is the third named foal and first winner from two to race for the winning Fanstaic Light (IRE) mare Sunup, a half-sister to the talented Paulini (Singspiel), who placed in the Group II AJC Light Fingers Stakes and Group III Silver Shadow Stakes.
Gundec is the most recent foal of Sunup, which was dropped from the official record last year.
Gundec is the third black-type winner for Darley Stud’s dual Group 1 winner Kermadec (Teofilo).
