Dundeel has had a flurry of female stakes-winners this season including Group I SA Derby winner Femminile and Richard Litt is hopeful his filly Ella Hazel can add her name to the tally.
Tested in Group I company at her past two starts in the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes and then the Group I ATC Australian Oaks, Ella Hazel came up short on those occasions, but gained experience from exposure to the best of her age group.
Dropped back to a Benchmark 64 event over 1800m against older rivals, she showed her class to win by a length for Josh Parr and has now won two of seven starts earning nearly $100,000.
A $250,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Arrowfield Stud for Galletta Constructions Co. Pty Ltd, Ella Hazel is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning sire Castelvecchio, who raced in the same colours and was also trained by Richard Litt.
“She holds a nomination for the Oaks (Queensland) and also there's the Roses (G3) in a few weeks too, which might suit her,” said Richard Litt.
“It was a wonderful effort and I’m so pleased to see her do that today. She's been trying her very best in these big races in the past five weeks and she had a nice little freshen up and she's come back great.”
Ella Hazel is the first winner from Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes winner Maid of Heaven, a half-sister by Smart Missile to Castelvecchio and also Group III winner Mirrasalo, the dam of Group III winner Mirra Vision and stakes-winner Mirra View.
Arrowfield Stud passed in a yearling filly by Palace Pier (GB) from Maid of Heaven at Inglis Classic this year and she has a filly to follow by I Am Invincible and then went to Snitzel last year.
