He might be the Sydney Cup favourite but the three-year-old autumn triple crown remains the focus for It’s A Dundeel.
The colt took out the first leg, the Randwick Guineas, in style and will be the favourite for Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
It's A Dundeel
The blinkers that worked so well over 1600 metres last time stay on for Saturday in a field which could be reduced from 10 to eight by acceptance time.
A decision on whether Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar runs will be made after he works on Wednesday morning while wet tracker Bloodbuzz Ohio is also entered for a race at Caulfield.
The Australian Derby (2400m), for which It’s A Dundeel is also favourite, is the ultimate goal for his New Zealand trainer Murray Baker who has entrusted the care of the colt to his son Bjorn at Warwick Farm.
Although It’s A Dundeel is officially a New Zealander, he has only raced in his homeland once for a win on debut.
His Australian career has netted five wins including the Group One Spring Champion Stakes.
He was favourite for the Victoria Derby but finished out of the placings behind Fiveandahalfstar.
“I’m really happy with him,” Bjorn Baker said.
“His work has been fantastic and he looks fantastic. The blinkers stay on for Saturday and everything is in order.”
Before he came to Sydney to set up on his own, Baker trained in partnership with his father and experienced the thrill of winning the Australian Derby in 2008 with Nom Du Jeu.
It’s A Dundeel is smaller in comparison to the imposing Nom Du Jeu, but is still a solid specimen with all the right attributes to be a stayer.
“People keep saying he’s small but he’s not tiny,” he said.
“He is a superbly balanced animal. He’s well balanced and put together well.
“He has the right conformation.”
It’s A Dundeel is also entered for the weight-for-age BMW but that has also been dismissed by Murray Baker who wants to concentrate on running him in his own age group.
