Record Priced Dundeel Colt Breaks His Maiden

Mark Smith - Tuesday November 6

Royally-bred Nordicus opened his winning account at his second start in a 1200 metre maiden at Randwick on Tuesday.

The Bjorn Baker-trained son of Dundeel and Miss Finland took the shortest way home under Jean Van Overmeire and despite running out in the last 50 metres had enough in hand to defeat That Song (Your Song) by one and a quarter lengths with Zouologist (Zoustar) making a promising career debut a further half-head back in third.

After an unplaced effort at his career debut at Canterbury on July 4, Nordicus showed he had learnt plenty from that run.


Baker said the win had special meaning as his father Murray Baker-trained the 6-time Group 1 winner Dundeel who spent the majority of his race career at Bjorn's Warwick Farm stables.

"He's got a big future this horse, he's only going to get better the further he goes. He's a powerful customer and still has a bit to learn as she could see near the line he wandered about.

"Big thanks to Craig Rounsefell, Boomer Bloodstock and the team. To be involved with this horse is a great opportunity for me to get a horse as well-bred as this and of course, it's fairly close to home with the Dundeel relationship."

Nordicus was a $900,000 purchase by Boomer Bloodstock out of the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

A half-brother to Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas heroine Stay With Me (Street Cry), Nordicus is the seventh foal of Redoute's Choice's 5-time Group 1 winning daughter Miss Finland.

After missing to Dundeel in 2015, Miss Finland travelled to Japan for a date with Deep Impact (JPN). She foaled a colt by the champion stallion in October last year and he has been named Bucharest.

Miss Finland was covered by dual Group 1 winner Shalaa (IRE) last spring.

 

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