Dealmaker aims to match Dundeel in spring
Dealmaker has a hard act to follow in his father’s footsteps, but the talented colt appears headed in the right direction after breaking his maiden on the Kensington track at Randwick.
The two-year-old now heads for a spell after getting off the mark at his third attempt in the TAB Handicap (1550m) after resisting the challenge of $1.75 favourite Morpheus to score by a long neck.
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller added blinkers to Dealmaker ($5.50) who was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy.
Waller was measured but did draw a comparison with Dundeel, a six-time Group One winner who amassed more than $5.3 million prize money before heading to stud in 2014.
“There’s a lot of similarities there and this horse will certainly be there as a three-year-old,” Waller said.
“I don’t know if he’ll quite get to the heights of his Dad but he’s a chance, that’s for sure.
“He just needs racing sense. Last start he was off the bridle 600 from home, so the blinkers were on today.”
Dealmaker will be aimed at the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 7, the race that kicked off Dundeel’s Group One collection in 2012.
McEvoy also rode the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt King’s Trust ($7) to his first win in the Unconquered Sprint (1100m).
The two-year-old showed improvement from a close third on debut at Gosford on May 26 to put a length on $2.45 favourite Canyonero.
Unguarded ($13) was 1-1/4 lengths back in third.
“It’s all about learning his trade this time in but the way he wound up and hit the line late, he’s definitely going to get to seven furlongs (1400m),” Paul Snowden said.
McEvoy nabbed a treble when he guided the versatile Joe Pride-trained Easy Eddie ($4.40) over soft ground for the first time to claim the Invictus Sprint (1100m) by 3-3/4 lengths from Godolphin’s $2.70 favourite Wander.