Irukandji (AUS) 2 c Dundeel – Cerberus Gal by General Nediym

The Team Hawkes-trained Irukandji staged a very good effort in breaking his maiden in Group Three company for his first win in four starts, providing his sire Dundeel (High Chaparral) with his first stakes winner.

He was trapped deep from his difficult draw in barrier 11 under jockey Corey Brown and was seventh early on before progressing around runners and crossing over to the lead at the 700 metres.

He travelled strongly into contention before lifting gamely when challenged in the straight, fighting bravely to score by a half-length from Aristocratic Miss (Foxwedge) in a most promising effort.

The colt was pinhooked by Musk Creek Farm for $240,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2016 from the Riversdale draft and was then bought by Spendthrift Australia for $500,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale the following year.

He is one of three named foals out of the Group Two-placed mare Cerberus Gal (General Nediym) making him a half-brother to two winners, while his second dam Idesa Bay (Civic Hope) won three times as a juvenile.

His unraced third dam Western Beauty (Best Western) is a half-sister to Group Three placegetter Confidentially (Kaoru Star), the dam of Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner and successful Arrowfield Stud-based sire Danzero (Danehill), while this is also the same family as Listed winners Permissive (Snippets) and Gold Salute (Testa Rossa).

Cerberus Gal was covered by Extreme Choice last September having produced a filly by the Arrowfield Stud-based Dundeel the previous month. She also has a yearling colt by Zoffany (Dansili) who sold for $1,500 to Hazelwood Place Pty Ltd at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale last year.