Stud deal means It's A Dundeel unlikely to contest Melbourne Cup

A stud deal for Atlantic Jewel's conqueror It's A Dundeel almost certainly rules out a Melbourne Cup tilt for the soon-to-be-retired four-year-old.

IT'S A Dundeel will be retired at the end of his four-year-old season after negotiations were completed for the young stallion to stand at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley next year.

Trainer Murray Baker and the Transtasman Syndicate, which owns five-time Group 1 winner It's A Dundeel, will continue to race the four-year-old this season with the Cox Plate his main mission this spring.

The stud deal means a Melbourne Cup start for It's A Dundeel is now very unlikely.

It's A Dundeel will remain in training next year for the Sydney autumn carnival and possibly even a Royal Ascot campaign in June before he is retired to stud.

Arrowfield's chairman John Messara described It's A Dundeel as the "real deal" and believes the horse has all the qualities to be a success at stud.

"It's A Dundeel's pedigree combines the brilliance and classic stamina of Sadler's Wells and Zabeel infused with the incomparable speed of Luskin Star to create a racehorse of superlative quality over a range of distances," Messara said.

"His Underwood Stakes success - his fifth Group 1 win - highlights both his weight-for-age class and the turn of foot he had previously demonstrated in his emphatic seven-length victory in the Rosehill Guineas."

Murray Andersen, It's A Dundeel's breeder and part-owner said the Arrowfield deal secures the horse's place on a major Australian stallion roster that will give him the opportunity he deserves at stud.