Prepared by Andrew Payne, three year-old gelding I'm Dun Dreamin' got under the
guard of punters when saluting in the 1500 maiden at his very first start at
odds of $51.He settled near the tail of the field for Jarrod Fry and finished with a late rush to win eased down by a length and a quarter.
The win might have surprised punters, but not his trainer.
"He's still very green as he missed a few trials, but I knew he had the fitness to be competitive," said Payne.
"We hoped he could be a Derby horse. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but that's what we're thinking."
I'm Dun Dreamin' was an $82,500 Inglis Premier purchase for his trainer from the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft and runs for a big syndicate of very happy owners.
He is the first winner for Bengal Angel, a half-sister by Nadeem to Group II placed Trichologist from the family of Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars and SA Oaks winner Larrocha.
I'm Dun Dreamin' is the seventh first crop winner for Dundeel, whose promising
son Dealmaker was a close third in the Group III ATC Ming Dynasty Stakes at
Rosehill.Prepared by Chris Waller for Star Thoroughbreds, Dealmaker has a win and two placings from four starts and looms as another bright spring staying prospect.
Another successful sire son the late great High Chaparral (IRE), Dundeel stands at Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $27,500.
