In the same week Dundeel’s first progeny have made an impact in the sale ring, his younger sibling has opened her winning account in country NSW.
Forreel, a Nom Du Jeu four-year-old half sister to the champion, had her first Australian start over 1300 metres at Scone on Sunday, claiming a narrow win for new trainer Bjorn Baker.
She was formerly trained in New Zealand by Baker’s father Murray who also prepared ATC Derby winners (It’s A) Dundeel (2013) and Nom Du Jeu (2008).
Chad Lever travelled to the Hunter Valley track specially to ride the mare who was having her sixth race start.
“There’s not much to her,” Lever told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“She is small and lean and still pretty green but she did the job.”
Dundeel, who won six Group One races, was retired to Arrowfield Stud after his victory in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Bjorn Baker will train a $900,000 Dundeel colt bought at the Magic Millions sale last week.
The Scone meeting was also the scene of an impressive debut by Paul Perry-trained two-year-old colt Perast who ran a slick 1:03.08secs for 1100 metres.
Perry’s foreman son Shannon said his father was not yet ready to reveal his plans for Perast but the stable had a high opinion of him.
Trainer Greg Bennett has a definite program for Invienna who made a triumphant return in an 1100m-race carrying 62kg.
Bennett said the mare would be back at Scone on March 5 for a heat of the Country Championship.
Bennett won the 2016 Country Championship final at Randwick with Clearly Innocent.
