Supersire Dundeel has his second G1 South Australian Derby winner and his first female G1 winner after his courageous daughter Femminile was too good for the boys at Morphettville this afternoon in the time honoured 2500m Classic.
Femminile becomes the ninth G1 winner for Dundeel - her Derby triumph coming at her tenth lifetime start and is her first ever win on a good track, though she had turned in two strong performances in the G3 Auraria Stakes and G1 Australasian Oaks that said the “mudlark” tag did her talents a disservice.
The Derby betting market was dominated by the talented grey Statuario (D'Argento) who started favourite after his easy last start win in the Galilee Stayers Final, partnered again by jockey John Allen who was chasing his fifth win in the race.
Godolphin’s blue silks were carried by the well fancied blueblood Lavalier (Microphone) looking to add another Cummings family-trained winner to the SA Derby honour roll.
It was quite an open betting race with VRC St Leger winner American Wolf ( American Pharoah), Snoopy Now (Sir Prancelot) and Global Eclipse (Pierata) all having their supporters, while reigning VRC Derby winner Goldrush Guru was out for redemption after a chequered Autumn campaign.
In the end it was a gem of a ride by Lachlan Neidorf on Femminile which upstaged “the master” on the favourite.
Femminile never went around a horse tailing Statuario all the way. At the 600 Goldrush Guru had made a midrace move to lead and Allen moved Statuario out to commence his run while Femminile darted through beneath him and burst to the front, as a brave Goldrush Guru finally tired and Lavalier went past him.
Statuario was winding up with a vengeance but he was too far out of his ground to catch Femminile who was just as strong to the line.
In the last 100m Lavalier was all out of gas but hung on gallantly for third as Femminile passed the post three quarters of a length clear from Statuario, who lost no fans with his mighty effort. Scintillante (Savabeel) put in a very honest run for fourth.
Femminile's career earnings now advance to $660,185 and she has fulfilled a long held dream for her fine trainer Phillip Stokes becoming his first SA Derby winner, although he was not on track with son Tommy Stokes on hand to savour the win.
"We're just so proud. This horse has been prepped up an absolute treat leading into today. Full credit to the team at Pakenham and Morphettville, it's a big operation now. The team puts in a lot of work, mum and dad, she spends a lot of time on the farm there,” Tommy Stokes said.
"She's just been prepped up to a tee, and the back up really suited, stepping up in trip. We were doing a bit of a rain dance before today, but she didn't need it. Lachie gave her an absolute peach. It was quite an effortless watch in the end. I'm just very proud, especially another winner for OTI being a Group One, it's really special.
“We just can't wait to celebrate. It's a shame Dad's not here, but I'm sure he's super proud."
The win also brings up consecutive Derbies for the girls, after Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) won last year.
Trainer Phillips Stokes and Rick Connolly Bloodstock paid $150,000 for the filly from Vinery Stud's 2023 Inglis Easter draft and her breeder Simon Delzoppo of Aralet Pty Ltd was likewise thrilled with the win as he remains in the ownership.
Delzoppo described the victory - his first G1 as a breeder and he also retained 50% of the filly as an owner – as “incredible’’.
“I’ve been breeding for 10+ years, this is my first G1 win as a breeder, it’s just the most unbelievable feeling,’’ Delzoppo said.
“It was amazing to watch. When she hit the front a couple of hundred metres out we were like ‘she’s in front, she’s in front’ and then she showed so much fight to hold off the favourite.
“I was confident we were a place chance today, Phillip has been building her up nicely and this was her grand final but to win the race, it’s unbelievable.’’
Vinery’s Adam White added: “We sold a few Dundeel fillies out of that Easter draft and one of them was Polymnia, which ran an unlucky 3rd in the G1 Australasian Oaks last weekend so it could have been a back-to-back Group 1 double for the Dundeel fillies out of our 2023 Easter draft.
“That said I’m over the moon for Simon, who bred Femminile and still owns a good chunk of her and for Neil Jenkinson, who does a lot of Simon’s work, it’s fantastic to get a result like this for them.’’
Femminile signalled her talent with a devastating win at two years in the Listed Oaklands Plate 1400m. That race was also won by last year's SA Derby winning filly Coco Sun - something to keep in mind for the future!
At three she showed staying ability from day one and raced competitively against the best of her age in the Melbourne Spring.
A third in the G3 Ethereal Stakes 2000m at Caulfield saw her attract supporters in the VRC Oaks, but that proved a bridge too far for the filly in her first real preparation.
This time around Stokes had her peaked to perfection for the Derby assignment at her fourth run in.
Femminile is bred on a reverse cross to that of the 2017 VRC Oaks winner Pinot who was by Pierro out of Zabeel mare Dizelle.
Dundeel, who is out of a Zabeel mare, from a daughter of Pierro in Femme Fireball, and her female line is one of elite racers as well as reliable producers.
Pierro loves duplication of Zabeel, which really emphasizes the toughness and will to win he passes on, and some of his best are bred this way.
Femminile's pedigree also taps into a well proven Oaks nick with Fastnet Rock as her second damsire, while Arc winner Peintre Celebre is sire of her third dam and provides a sex balanced line of Nureyev.
Her winning dam Femme Fireball is a full sister to the talented Rock, G1 placed at the Flemington mile and runner up in a G3 Rosehill Gold Cup at 2000m.
They were produced by the winning Fastnet Rock daughter Subtitle.
Champion Peintre Celebre who shuttled successfully to Australia sired her winning third dam Paint By Numbers.
Her fourth dam Credit Account was a Group One winner by the mighty Imposing who appears in many a good stayers pedigree,and she was a good producer too - covered by Fusaichi Pegasus she foaled Johnny who placed in a G1 AJC Sires.
Femminile's fifth dam was top quality, dual G1 placed in The Oaks and Musidora Stakes UK, and a half sister to notable sire Bishop Of Cashel.
Vinery Stud sold a Bivouac yearling filly from Femme Fireball at Inglis Easter last year for $140,000 to Bennett Racing. Named Fireball Miss, she is yet to race.
Two more daughters have followed - a 2023 filly by Pinatubo (IRE) and in 2024 a filly by So You Think.
Femme Fireball was then covered by the superstar Anamoe.
Dundeel stands at Arrowfield at a fee of $88,000
