Chipping Norton Stakes Preparations Continue For It’s A Dundeel

New Zealand superstar It’s A Dundeel impressed onlookers with a strong trackwork gallop this morning ahead of his return to racing in the 2014 Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

It's A Dundeel will return to the races for the first time since his Cox Plate defeat in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm this weekend.

It's A Dundeel will return to the races for the first time since his Cox Plate defeat in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Strapper Emily Murphy said that she was more than satisfied with the work of the five-time Group 1 winner and is delighted with his condition heading into the Group 1 event over 1600 metres this weekend.

“We were very happy with his gallop this morning,” Murphy told TVN.

“He worked over 1400 metres with a mate and he hit the line really well.

“His main fitness work was done in the trial the other week so this was just a maintenance gallop.

“We couldn’t be happier with him at this stage.”

It’s A Dundeel is unlikely to do any more serious work before the Chipping Norton Stakes this weekend and Murphy said that the four-year-old was the type of horse that made it very easy to track the amount of work that he is doing in the lead-up to a race.

“He sort of just works up to his mate, which is great for us because it means that he isn’t over galloping and doing too much at home,” Murphy said.

“We can really monitor what he does and it is great for us.”

It’s A Dundeel is currently residing at the Warwick Farm stables of Bjorn Baker, the son of trainer Murray Baker, and the rising trainer was on hand to watch It’s A Dundeel go through his paces this morning.

Baker was brimming in praise for the condition of It’s A Dundeel and is full of confidence that the son of High Chaparral will record his sixth victory at the highest level of racing this weekend.

“He couldn’t be going any better,” Baker said.

“He looks amazing at the moment and I would daresay that I have never seen a horse with a better coat than him.

“He is in fantastic order and I think that he will be very hard to beat at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

“It is home track, I think it is the third time he has been stabled there now, and he seems to go well there.”

It’s A Dundeel will be chasing his second Group 1 victory over a mile after taking out the 2013 edition of the Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m), which was held at Warwick Farm due to the redevelopment at the Royal Randwick Racecourse.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.