It’s been an excellent week for Dundeel, with five wins capped by his 10th stakeswinner Entente, who has the added distinction of being his sire’s first winner at Australian racing’s Grand Final meeting, The Championships.

Diverted to the $200,000 ATC Carbine Club S. 1600m G3 after the cancellation of the Queensland Winter Carnival, Entente displayed the benefit of the solid conditioning for which the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable is renowned.Entente & Bottega delivered an Arrowfield-sired quinella in the ATC Carbine Club S. G3. (PHOTO: Bradley Photos)

He found the front soon after the start and, perfectly rated by Tim Clark,  responded generously when the challenges came in the straight.  Snitzel’s son Bottega did best, finishing strongly from the back of the field to complete the quinella, with Power Scheme third.  

Tim Clark, who has ridden Entente in all five of his starts for owners Dodmark Thoroughbreds, assessed his progress.

“He has always shown good potential. I think getting him gelded, he has really turned the corner this time in.

“That was a good performance. The penny has started to drop with him. Now that he is going about his races in the right manner, there is no reason why he can’t continue going right through his grades.”

Entente’s next start is likely to be the $200,000 Frank Packer Plate G3 on 18 April.

Bred by Philip Bennett & his daughter Steph Bansemer-Brown, Entente was purchased by Shaun Dwyer for $105,000 from the Bombora Downs draft at the Inglis Premier Sale. He is the second Group performer from two foals out of Nextess (by Stratum), who sadly died in 2017.

Entente is Dundeel’s 5th stakeswinner this season, after Group 1 Guineas winners Castelvecchio & Super Seth and Listed winners Atyaab (South Africa) & The Inevitable.