Seven days after winning the Golden Slipper with Snitzel filly Estijaab, Team Hawkes struck again in the Group III ATC Schweppervescence (T L Baillieu) Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens with the Dundeel colt Irukandji who credited his sire with his first stakes-winner.
A maiden after three starts, which included a second in the Listed Festival of Racing Stakes at Flemington, Irukandji appreciated the step-up in distance to 14000 metres and he did it the tough way.
With Corey Brown in the saddle, Irukandji was caught on a limb from his outside barrier. Brown elected to press on with the son of Dundeel who hit the lead before the home turn.
Irukandji was entitled to feel the pinch, however, he fought on tenaciously, first turning back the challenge of the erratic favourite Spin then safely holding the finish of the fast-finishing Aristocratic Miss (Foxwedge) by half a length with Spin (I Am Invincible) a further length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
"He's a beautiful horse and he did not have a lot of luck in running," Brown said.
"I was three and four deep, so I pressed on to go to the lead mid-race and he stuck on well considering I had to make two runs on him.
"He was going as strong on the line as he was at the top of the straight."
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said the winner has a bright future and he will come under consideration for a start in next weeks Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes.
"He had a horror run but Corey got him to relax," Michael Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his brother Wayne and father John, said.
"He elected to go forward and never panicked. He had a lapful of horse coming into the straight and got the job done.
"Spendthrift have been great supporters of ours and Arrowfield will be wrapped. John Messara, up there on the couch, will be sweating bullets at the moment, with Dundeel's first stakes-winner.
"We will have a think about starting him next week in the Group 1 (ATC Sires' Produce Stakes), it's pretty tempting but then again he might want further."
A $240,000 weanling pin-hook for Musk Creek Farm, Irukandji made $500,000 to the bid of Spendthrift Australia at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
That made him the second most expensive yearling from the first crop of Dundeel after the $900,000 colt out of Miss Finland.
Irukandji is the third foal and second winner out of the good racemare Cerberus Gal, a 3-time winner and 4-time stakes-placed daughter of General Nediym, who comes from the family of Golden Slipper winner Danzero.
Cerberus Gal has a yearling colt by Zoffany (IRE) who made just $1,500 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
After foaling a filly by Dundeel last spring, Cerberus Gal was covered by Extreme Choice.
Irukandji becomes the first winner and first stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud's Dundeel.
The 6-time Group 1 winning son of High Chaparral (IRE) has 10 lots heading to Easter.
