First SW for Preferment - Dunwoody Wins VRC St Leger

Media Release - Saturday April 29

Three-year-old gelding Dunwoody called upon all his staying reserves as he lead from barrier to box under in-form rider Jordan Childs to land the Listed VRC St Leger (3000m) at Sandown on Saturday as the $61 outsider of the field.

Jordan Childs has Dunwoody bowling along at the head of affairs as they cause an upset in the Listed VRC St Leger (3000m) at Sandown  Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Jordan Childs has Dunwoody bowling along at the head of affairs as they cause an upset in the Listed VRC St Leger (3000m) at Sandown Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Trainer Matt Cumani agreed the win in the $300,000 race came as something of a shock, but said he went into the race with a plan to be in front shortly after the start with the son of Preferment and hopefully still be there at the finish.

“It was of course a bit of surprise at those odds, but we came here with a plan to lead as Jordie (Childs) is a brilliant front-running rider,” Cumani said.

“He’s the sort of horse you’d want to go to war with. He would be your charger because he’s just big and strong and he just keeps going.”

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Despite knowing he would stay a trip, Cumani said he originally wanted the St Leger, which was shifted from Anzac Day at Flemington, run at 2400m and not the 3000m it ultimately became.

“Funny enough, they (Racing Victoria) canvassed opinion as to what we wanted to do and we were keen to lead in this race, so I was actually a bit apprehensive going up to 3000m when it was switched to Sandown,” he said.

“I thought if we we’re going to make a bold move third-up that perhaps 2400m would be better, but it’s worked really well here today.”

Dunwoody looked likely to be collared inside the final 200m mark when challenged by the $2.90 favourite Midnight Glow, but rallied to fend off all challengers and score by three-quarters of a length from runner-up Highland Blaze, with Midnight Glow third.

Dunwoody is the first stakes winner for Brighthill Farm stallion Preferment. The four-time Group One winning son of Zabeel is also the sire of stakes performers Smirk and Tap Dancer.

Out of the four-time winning Street Cry mare Queen Ouija, Dunwoody was bred by Yulong Investment NZ Ltd, with the prominent breeding operation shareholders in young stallion Preferment.

Yulong sold him as a yearling for just $5,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale.

Queen Ouija has a yearling filly and weanling colt by exciting young Yulong sire Alabama Express. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Vrc St Leger LR 3000m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(5) Time: 3:14.73
1
Dunwoody
- 3g Preferment (NZ) x Queen Ouija (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
2
0.8
Highland Blaze
- 3g Highland Reel (IRE) x Bells Of Troy (AUS) (Clangalang (AUS))
Tnr: Jackson Pallot Rdr: Carleen Hefel 58
3
1.6
Midnight Glow
- 3g Sebring (AUS) x Midnight Fantasy (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: J P Salanitri Rdr: Patrick Moloney 58
4
1.7
Nightsun
- 3g Tosen Stardom (JPN) x Galivant (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: J Bowditch 58
5
2.9
Roaring Engine
- 3g Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
6
4.7
Highland Hill
- 3g Highland Reel (IRE) x Orcym (AUS) (Orpen (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
7
7.7
Winning Bid
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Anchor Bid (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: W Egan 56
8
12.7
Pulveriser
- 3g Preferment (NZ) x Yulong Venus (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Bobbin Rdr: H Coffey 58
9
13.4
Musgrave
- 3g Preferment (NZ) x No Finer Dame (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
10
18.4
Final Overture
- 3g Iffraaj (GB) x Hot In Pink (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: D L Turner 58
11
58.4
Kentucky Nick
- 3g American Pharoah (USA) x The Nickster (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: J Mott 58
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