Off the back of consecutive black type placed efforts at her last two starts, 3yo Dundeel filly Litzdeel recorded a thoroughly deserving stakes victory of her own, winning the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville.
Third three starts back behind Statuario (D’Argento) in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m), trainer Danny O’Brien was surely confident going into Saturday’s race with Statuario going on top finish a narrow second last week in the Group 1 South Australian Derby.
Racing in second behind Hurricane Georgie (Toronado), jockey Zac Spain allowed the filly to come up on the outside of the leader with 300m to run. Although Cavity Bay (Cable Bay) had made up considerable ground along the inside, which was short lived, Litzdeel held off the late charge of the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Chase Your Dreams (Contributer) to score by three-parts of a length.
Becoming the third individual stakes winner for her dam Geblitzt (Testa Rossa), joining Group 1 Melbourne Cup hero Vow And Declare (Declaration of War) and Listed winner Lycurgus (Star Witness), Litzdeel has plenty of upside for her connections as she is relatively lightly raced, having only had seven starts.
“It’s fantastic. There is a big team of owners here today,” O’Brien said
“She was impressive last start. She has been going really well this prep and we came here quietly confident that she would put in a good effort today.
“She made the trip across on Friday morning. It was a bit of a journey for her, but she settled in beautifully and was a pleasure to deal with today.”
One of six winners from seven runners for Geblitzt, who has an unraced 2yo filly by Too Darn Hot named Kissattack as part of the Grahame Begg stable, Litzdeel unfortunately didn’t make her reserve when offered as part of the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Premier yearling sale.
Interestingly, the Chris Waller Stable will offer Litzdeel’s half-sister at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, with the 4yo American Pharoah mare Hatasu selling as Lot 413.
Litzdeel became the 37th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel who has been in solid form of late off the back of fellow 3yo filly Femminile winning the Group 1 South Australian Derby last Saturday.
Dundeel will stand for a fee of $88,000 (inc. GST) this coming season alongside his highly promising son Castelvecchio who will stand for $49,500 (inc. GST).
