A pre-race plan to undo the short priced favourite It’s A Dundeel came off for Michael Rodd with Super Cool causing a major upset in the Group 2 $220,000 Mitchelton Wines Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley today.

Super Cool

Super Cool causes a major upset in the Group 2 Mitchelton Wines Vase at Moonee Valley today. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Trainer Mark Kavanagh and Rodd devised a plan that they thought could see Super Cool upset the unbeaten Kiwi and it worked to perfection.

Rodd had wanted to have Super Cool up on the pace and out sprint It’s A Dundeel down the short Moonee Valley straight and the plan fell into place with Rodd securing a winning break on the home turn.

James McDonald on It’s A Dundeel was happy to settle the favourite at the tail of the field and after making a forward move at the 800m was unable to peg back the winner after going wide on the corner.

“I thought our best chance to beat him was to be up on the speed and hoping that they went steady and make it a sprint home,” Rodd said.

“That’s the only chink in his armour It’s a Dundeel, is that he just doesn’t seem to quicken when he should, he just sort of labours away for a hundred metres and that could bring him undone,” Rodd said.

“A small field, my bloke has an exceptional turn of foot. He’s a bit underrated too.”

Kavanagh was confident heading into the Vase today that they had a good chance of beating It’s A Dundeel and will now head to Flemington for the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington next Saturday for a rematch with the Kiwi three year old.

“The Derby’s always been on the agenda after his first start actually,” Kavanagh said.

“He’s taken a bit of tweaking. He got blocked in on the rails a couple of times, and you know he’s sort of peaking at the right time.”

It’s A Dundeel, who ended up starting at $1.30,  will be better suited by the long straight of Flemington and will get his chance to turn the tables on Super Cool ($9) after going down by one and three quarter lengths with Viking Star a further one and three quarter lengths away on third spot.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.