MURRAY Baker sounded an ominous warning to his pending Championship rivals when he declared It’s A Dundeel has “ever been better”. Baker said It’s A Dundeel is completely over the foot issue that troubled him at the tail end of the spring carnival, reports Racing Network.
“We are really happy with him, we don’t think he’s ever been better,” Baker said. “I have always thought that as an autumn four-year-old it would be when he’s at his best. On his breeding alone it is when it should all come together.”
Baker said It’s A Dundeel, accompanied by younger stablemates Show The World and Atlante, would arrive in Sydney on February 10 or 11.
He said the four-time Group 1 winner would trial in Sydney before he resumed racing, more than likely in the Group 1 $500,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600 m) on March 8.
Baker said a likely campaign would then flow to three more Group 1s – the $500,000 Ranvet, $1.5 million BMW before the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Show The World, a winner of the Group 2 The Sound Championships at Ellerslie on January 1 will have his first start in a lower tier race before stepping up to the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas.
Baker said the main goal for this son of High Chaparral is the $2 million ATC Derby.
Atlante, a last start winner of the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, is another who will head towards the Randwick Guineas.
Baker noted that the prizemoney on offer during the Sydney carnival is “unbelievable”.
“I think half New Zealand wants to get there,” he said.