The Drama of Dundeel
Published: 20 Apr 2014
A bright Autumn's day - The well-decorated Royal Randwick winning post for The Championships day two
After a sodden first day, which would have had any event organiser losing sleep, The Championships reached their pinnacle on a sun-bathed afternoon in Sydney’s southern suburbs. On inspection during the week, it was a race card with a high grade of thoroughbred and a touch of drama thrown in. The high-class filly Solicit had been battling to be ready for the Queen of the Turf, the Oaks shaped as a momentous ANZAC test a week early, and of course the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which pitted our racing Queen Gai Waterhouse against the might of Arrowfield Stud and Racing NSW chairman John Messara.
As the day unfolded the glamour of well-dressed patrons and the excitement of betting plunges fuelled an on-track buzz that hadn’t been seen at Royal Randwick since Black Caviar graced the turf a year earlier. The tipping and debate surrounding each race had been building up from the time acceptances were confirmed on Tuesday, with reputations and big bets on the line.
On the track, the bias brigade yelled “leader bias” after two early performances from Eloping and Beauty’s Beast. An early crow at best, or misguided judgement at worst, which was proved to be off the mark as Sidestep stormed home to win the Royal Sovereign Stakes and Diamond Drille the Queen of the Turf. The performance of the latter was the surprise of the day. She is a tough mare with a constitution that fits well with the challenging Randwick circuit, a course and distance that Waller’s two classy mares, Red Tracer and Catkins, found beyond them.
The Oaks was genuinely run ensuring the strongest stayer would prevail, and the winner of this ANZAC test was a kiwi made of the sternest of stuff. Rising Romance is a strongly-built filly that wouldn’t be out of place in Richie McCaw’s position when he leaves the field. She bustled around the Randwick 2400m and maintained a relentless surge into the straight, too strong for the impressive type Zanbagh and big-hearted filly Lucia Valentina.
A winning impression - All eyes were on The Offer in the mounting yard
And the Sydney Cup was won by one of the more handsome staying types you will see. The Offer has presented in beautiful fashion over his past few runs and duly saluted on each occasion. The special meaning of this horse to his jockey Tommy Berry was clear in the jockey’s post-race interview, a touching moment that resonated across the racecourse. Some photographs have been added to the bottom of this article as a tribute to the strength Tommy has shown, which words cannot describe, and none of us can fully understand. To ride three winners on the biggest stage in the toughest of circumstances was an incredible performance (Tommy also rode Diamond Drille and Cosmic Endeavour).
All the high quality races that had come before were just a prelude though to the drama of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Gai’s royal charger, Carlton House, paraded in magnificent fashion, while It’s A Dundeel came into the yard late following a clumsy moment pre-race when he slipped in his stalls. As he entered the yard, the rapid nervousness in his stride and the look on strapper Emily Murphy’s face showed it had been a nerve-wracking lead-up to his biggest ever race.
A royal entrance - Carlton House made an impressive entry to the Theatre of the Horse
Nervous anticipation - James McDonald had an anxious wait while the others paraded
The race itself continued the dramatic pace of the mounting yard action as Tommy Berry headed to the lead and set a rapid tempo aboard Carlton House. The tactics used in the Ranvet Stakes were repeated again as most of the field already looked uncomfortable chasing many lengths behind mid-race. In complete contrast to his earlier antics, It’s A Dundeel found a rhythm in third that was foreboding for watchers who had backed his competitors. Carlton House gave a kick early in the straight, but the mighty “Real Deel” was stalking not far behind. The crowd erupted as he let down in the final furlong and produced his immense finishing strength. Championships year one had found its magic racing moment.
Crowning moment - James McDonald returns victorious aboard It's A Dundeel after winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Tommy Berry's three wins
Diamond Drille, winner of the Queen of the Turf
The Offer, winner of the Sydney Cup
Cosmic Endeavour, winner of the Sapphire Stakes