James McDonald described the improvement of It's A Dundeel as scary following his barrier trial win at Royal Randwick on Monday, reports Racing Network. It's A Dundeel settled midfield in the 1200m heat on the course proper and wound up strongly with a brilliant finishing burst to race away from his rivals, sending a clear message he will be a force to be reckoned with during the Sydney autumn carnival.
"He gave me an incredible feel, he is a magnificent horse," McDonald said.
"It is scary how much he has improved, he is a late foal so he was always going to get better, he is out of a Zabeel mare by High Chaparral.
"It is scary that he can improve and how he does improve, every time I get on him he gets better.
"He only had a jump out, he is going straight in to a mile race fresh up, it is a Group 1, he will be taking on a handy field, so he needs to be up to the mark, he will improve a stack
Trainer Murray Baker was in attendance and said it was the intention to have a testing trial given the horse is being aimed at the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) first-up at Warwick Farm on March 8.
"He is fit, I think he was pretty fit when he left New Zealand, he had a jump out which was a good jump out because it had Atalante in it and a couple of other handy horses," Baker said.
"1600m and further is his go so it is perfect to resume in, 1400m races are were he is vulnerable."
Baker backed up McDonald's thoughts that It's A Dundeel has improved since his spring campaign where he was able to defeat Atlantic Jewel.
"We think he is much better this preparation, he has matured a lot and given his breeding, I've always said this is his time as an autumn four-year-old," he said.
"He is getting stronger, he has turned in to a strong colt."