There’s no doubt It’s A Dundeel is a seriously good horse. But is he a bonafide champion deserving of the title of best horse in Australia?
The four-year-old boasts an incredibly impressive record: nine wins and two minor placings from 14 starts, five of them at Group 1 level, and prize money of $2,377,155.
It’s A Dundeel proved he was above average when he dominated the Sydney autumn carnival. He was brilliant in becoming the first horse since the great Octagonal in 1996 to claim the Triple Crown (Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and ATC Australian Derby), winning the final two legs by an aggregate of almost 13 lengths, while his six-length Derby triumph was one of the easiest and most impressive in the history of the race. His amazing autumn was recognised when he was awarded the 2013 NSW Champion Horse of the Year award.
He’s also the only horse to have lowered the colours of the brilliant Atlantic Jewel.
Yet despite all of that, he’s widely regarded as slightly inferior to Mark Kavanagh’s champion and that’s grossly unfair in my opinion.
Now before you start hurling abuse my way, I’m not for minute potting Atlantic Jewel. She was every bit a superstar and had the potential to be one of the all-time greats.
But, why after Black Caviar’s retirement has Atlantic Jewel been regarded as the sole headline act?
Is it because It’s A Dundeel is a Kiwi? Surely not! We all know Aussies love to claim those with talent from across the ditch as their own; be it person, food or animal (refer Russell Crowe, Crowded House, Pavlova, Phar Lap etc.).
Perhaps everyone was mesmerised by Atlantic Jewel’s amazing first-up win in the Memsie Stakes where she made a high class field, including It’s A Dundeel, look second rate.
Or maybe it is due to the fact Atlantic Jewel, before being retired earlier in the week, tasted defeat only once (to It’s A Dundeel) from 11 starts, whereas the son of High Chaparral has a winning strike rate just shy of 65 per cent.
Whatever the case I feel the Kiwi is a genuine superstar, underrated and deserving of at least equal footing as Atlantic Jewel.
It’s A Dundeel will prove himself a champion if he wins Saturday’s Cox Plate.
Some might argue he’s been gifted his chance to claim the weight-for-age classic of Australia given Atlantic Jewel’s absence.
And while there’s no doubt ‘AJ’ would’ve been extremely hard to hold out, these things happen and you can only beat the opposition you come up against.
It must be remembered It’s A Dundeel suffered an injury en route to the Cox Plate and question marks must remain as to how much that has set him back. It certainly hasn’t been the perfect preparation.
It’s by no means a vintage renewal of the Cox Plate. But with Fiorente, Puissance De Lune, Super Cool, Green Moon and Long John, there’s still a host of very good gallopers in the mix to claim the $1.8M purse.
And if Murray Baker has It’s A Dundeel 100 per cent fit he should be winning on Saturday and stamping himself, once and for all, as the best horse in Australasia and a potential star on the world stage.
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