She’s Ideel Breaks Through in Kingston Town

Previously a five-time stakes placegetter including twice at Group One level, She’s Ideel (Dundeel) claimed a richly deserved first black-type victory in Saturday’s A$160,000 Group Three TAB Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. 

Passed in at the 2017 Premier Sale at Karaka with a reserve of $100,000, She’s Ideel has now had 23 starts for six wins, 11 placings and A$973,575 in stakes.

She’s Ideel was runner-up behind the Cox Plate (2040m) winner Sir Dragonet (Camelot) in the Group One Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill in the autumn, and she began her spring with a flying finish into third behind Karaka graduate Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Group One Winx Stakes (1400m).

Saturday was finally her day. Given a perfect ride by Jason Collett for fellow expat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker, the six-year-old finished too strongly for her 11 opponents and went clear for a comfortable victory by a length and a quarter.

“Everyone knows she’s been knocking on the door and had a couple of unlucky runs,” Collett said. “Today was great.

“I said to Bianca, the strapper, that I never felt she was going to be beaten once she landed in that position. Off a pretty moderate tempo, it was easy.

“She’s looking for further than this, but she had a nice turn of foot today – really happy with that.”

She’s Ideel holds nominations for the Group One Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m), but Baker indicated on Saturday that the next step is likely to be the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on 2 October.

“She’ll go to the Metropolitan, and then down to Melbourne,” Baker said. “I’m thrilled for the ownership group – Brian Nutt and the team have been my number-one supporters since I got here, and he’s a great family friend. Hopefully on to better things.”