Making the leap from an 1800 metre maiden win at Hawkesbury, the three-year-old Dundeel gelding Entente led every step of the way in Saturday’s Group III Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on a testing track at Randwick.
Perfectly rated by Tim Clark, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding stuck on resolutely to defeat the fast-finishing Snitzel colt Bottega by a half-neck with a further one and a half lengths back to the Fiorente (IRE) gelding Powers Scheme who edged out the heavily baked Lord Kanaloa gelding for third.
Adrian Bott said connections had originally targeted the Queensland Derby for the son of Dundeel but with the Queensland Winter Carnival not going ahead, Entente is likely to back up in the Group III Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick in a fortnight.
“The conditions today worked in his favour coming back from 1800 metres to a mile on a testing track you needed a strong fit horse and he was certainly that today,” Bott said.
“Tim knows the horse well and he has had plenty of success for Peter and June Dunn who have been great supporters of the stable so it’s great to repay them.
“A race like the Frank Packer Plate would be ideal as we have had to have a rethink and rechange the plans pretty quickly.”
Purchased by Shaun Dwyer Thoroughbred Racing for $105,000 at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Entente is the second foal and second winner out of the winning Stratum mare Nextess.
Her first foal High 'n' Dry (High Chaparral) broke his maiden at Sandown before placing in the Group III SAJC Chairman's Stakes and Listed Port Adelaide Guineas.
Sadly, Entente is the final foal of Nextress who died in October 2017.
Entente becomes the tenth stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel who won the ATC Australian Derby on this day in 2013 and have the favourite in this afternoon’s classic.
