Sunsets needed to make up over six lengths on Riff Rocket from their most recent meeting in the Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington and turn it around he did in Saturday’s Group III Neds Caulfield Classic (2000m).
Ridden by John Allen for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Sunsets (Dundeel) stayed on tenaciously to defy Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) by a half-head, with Gates (Frankel) two and a half lengths back in third.
With his stakes breakthrough, the son of Dundeel advances his record to two wins and two seconds from eight starts with earnings of $171,365.
Natalie Young said Sunsets has earned his chance in the Group 1 Victoria Derby.
“We thought we’ve got to push forward from a wide gate, but when Gold Bullion dIdn’t lead, I thought we’re going to be under pressure a long way out, but he stuck on,” Young said.
“He’ll definitely get further. This is the most relaxed colt you’ll come across. He goes to sleep in the stalls and gets here on race day and doesn’t work himself up. He brings his A-game.
“Don’t you love it when you’ve got a live Derby chance?”
A $150,000 purchase for Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) / Busuttin Racing from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Sunsets was a $34,000 pinhook for DJM Bloodstock from the Segenhoe Stud consignment at the 2021 National Weanling Sale.
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, Sunsets is the best of two winners from as many to race for the stakes-placed Fastnet Rock mare Waterloo Sunset.
A winner at Caulfield and placed behind Serenely Discreet and Bella Sorellastra in the Group II Edward Manifold stakes, Waterloo Sunset is a half-sister to the Group I Schweppes Oaks winner Invest (Dehere) out of the Group 1 Flight stakes winner Unearthly (Zabeel).
Kia Ora Stud purchased Waterloo Sunset for $300,000 at the 2022 Inglis Chairman's Sale when carrying a Farnan colt and sold her to Ben Kwok the following year for $110,000 when again covered by Farnan.
Kia Ora sold the Farnan colt to Black Ridge Farms for $180,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Sunsets is the 25th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel
