New Zealand’s leading stable, run by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, has wrapped up a satisfying weekend with Cutadeel claiming the Listed Three-Year-Old Salver at Ellerslie.
The stable had a stakes double on Saturday with Mongolian Marshal in the Group Three Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa and Queen Of Diamonds in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni.
Sent out favourite in Sunday’s 2100m-feature, Cutadeel, a son of champion Dundeel who was trained by Baker, overcame some buffeting in the home straight to confirm a path to the NZ Derby.
“He’s a promising staying horse who had to do a bit then so it was a really good effort,” Baker told NZ Racing Desk.
“He’s not over big but he’s a neat horse and a good mover.
“It’s a thrill to train a stakes winner by Dundeel.”
Dundeel, who raced in Australia as It’s A Dundeel, won 10 of his 19 starts, six at Group One level including the 2013 Australian Derby (2400m).
Cutadeel is now the $10 equal favourite with stablemate Madison County for the NZ Derby in March.
“We’ll work it out in the next couple of days but we’re hoping he can run in the Derby,” Baker said.
“This race was won by Mongolian Khan and he went on and won the Derby.”
Mongolian Khan also won the 2015 Australian Derby and went on to win that year’s Caulfield Cup.
