Arrowfield Sires Chasing SA Derby Three Peat

With Arrowfield Stud-based Dundeel and The Autumn Sun providing the past two winners in Dunkel (Dundeel) and Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun), come Saturday, Snitzel and Dundeel will have three runners between them in the $1m Gr1 South Australian Derby aiming to give the leading Hunter Valley farm three consecutive race winners for their sires. Although the Bowness Stud-bred Statuario (D'Argento-Miss Entice, by Dash for Cash) does look hard to beat, it is worth noting that the Arrowfield Stud-bred and sold Politely Dun (Dundeel-Politeness, by Street Sense) has finished one place behind Saturday's favourite in his past two starts, suggesting that the gap between them in the betting might be exaggerated slightly. Purchased by his trainer Danny O'Brien for $150,000 at the Magic Millions, the gelded 3YO has finished fourth in two Group 2 races and his last start second in the Listed Galilee Series Final behind Statuario suggests that come Saturday from barrier 2, jockey Daniel Stackhouse looks capable of having Politely Dun in a striking position when it counts. Another by the very same sire is the Philip Stokes trained filly Femminile (Dundeel-Femme Fireball, by Pierro) who is out to back up from her seventh placing in last Saturday's Gr1 Australasia Oaks (2000m). It is worth nothing that last year's Derby winner Coco Sun had come through a run in the Oaks the start prior. The remaining runner by an Arrowfield Stud sire is Ciaron Maher's Saint Emilion (Snitzel-Kylikwong, by Red Ransom). A last start fourth in the Gr3 Chairman's Stakes, only two lengths off the winner, the step up in trip here should suit her. A $200,000 purchase from the Magic Millions draft of Westbury Stud Ltd, the gelding is out of the Red Ransom mare Kylikwong, who was placed in the Gr1 VRC Oaks (2500m), Gr1 Australasia Oaks (2031m) and Gr2 SA Oaks (2500m), suggesting the trip should not be an issue.

Dundeel could add another Gr1 SA Derby to his tally (pic: Joan Farras)