Timeform 130-rated star Dunaden

DUNADEN (FR) - 2006 bay horse

With so many top horses representing just a small handful of sire lines and varying crossed between those major lines, it would be great is something a bit different could emerge as a force. The odds are heavily stacked against Dunaden being the one as he is the one hit for his unfashionably-bred sire and the only other blacktype horse within the first three generations of his family is a chaser.
 
There is, however, no doubt that Dunaden was a top-class racehorse. Timeform rated him 130 at his peak and he was an epitome of the modern competitor. A top-notch middle-distance horse who had the stamina to take the Group 1 Melbourne Cup over two miles, he also won the Group 1 Caulfield Cup and the Grade 1 Hong Kong Vase.
 
He was a multiple Group 1-placed pattern scorer in France, placed in the Group 1 Coronation Cup, Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes in England, and his 10 wins and 19 placings from 46 starts netted him £5,271,584, one of the highest amounts ever accumulated by a European horse.

The only stakes winner for the Group 2-winning miler Nicobar (by Indian Ridge), Dunaden has three winning siblings but none of his first four dams made it to the racetrack. They are La Marlia (by Kaldounevees), La Rotunda (by Romildo), Sugarberry (by Comrade In Arms), and Maple Sugar (by Northern Treat).
 
Dunaden is, therefore, an unknown prospect. He stands at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, he covered 99 mares in his first season, and there is no doubt that this good-looking and top-class performer has thoroughly earned his chance at stud. His first foals made up to 20,000gns.
 
His first win came in May of his three-year-old season, his first blacktype success in November of his four-year-old campaign, he was outstanding at five and six years of age, and merely very good at the age of seven.

He looks unlikely to get many winning juveniles, although there will probably be a few in his first crop. He has also been covering National Hunt mares and it may be that it is in that sector that he makes the greater impact. It will be fascinating to see how his career turns out.

DUNADEN (FR) – b.2006 – Nicobar – La Marlia, 10 wins inc Caulfield Cup (Gr1), Melbourne Cup (Gr1), Hong Kong Vase (Gr1), Geelong Cup (Gr3), Prix de Barbeville (Gr3), Prix du Grand Camp (L), 2nd Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1), Coronation Cup (Gr1), Hardwicke Stakes (Gr2), Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2), 3rd Prix Ganay (Gr1), Hong Kong Vase (Gr1), Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2), Jockey Club Stakes (Gr2). Sire in England. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bf - Candello (by Supreme Leader)     Goffs UK     Jan     £5,500
​bf - Ceilidh Band (by Celtic Swing)     Tattersalls     Feb     not sold
bc - Honesty Pays (by Dr Fong)     Tattersalls     Oct     ​11,000gns
bc - La Tulipe (by Authorized)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
​grc - Lady Friend (by Environment Friend)     Goffs UK     Jan     withdrawn
bg - Lady Samantha (by Fraam)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     withdrawn
bf - Light Dreams (by Fantastic Light)     Goffs UK     Jan     £800
bc - Litewska (by Mujadil)     Goffs UK     Aug     ​£17,000
chc - Morar (by Kalanisi)     Goffs UK     Aug     ​not sold
bc - Queenoz (by Oscar)     Goffs UK     Jan     £7,500
grf - Sidecar (by Spectrum)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     ​€5,500