Undue Gains Respect in Oakleigh Plate Triumph

Undue grabbed his second major sprint with a grandstand finish to land the Oakleigh Plate (Aus-I) at Caulfield on Feb 24.

As was the winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes (Aus-I), 40 minutes earlier, Undue is by a son of Danehill — in his case Commands. The Woodlands rostered tyro didn’t quite manage grade I success, coming closest in The Galaxy and Caulfield Guineas at 1,100 and 1,600 meters.

But two of his sons have managed grade Is, Paratroopers and Undue, initially in May last year, in a major weight-for-age sprint, the Doomben 10,000.

His second grade I success elevated his earnings by $212,000 to almost $944,000.

Conditioned by Shane Clark in Darwin for eight owners, Undue was harvested for a modest amount from the breeder, Woodlands Stud, after winning just one race.

His dam is three-time winner Influence, by high class sprinter and Galaxy winner, Bletchingly, a three-times Champion Sire. Undue currently has 12 wins and eight placings from 30 starts, all at the top level in the past year or more.

Except for Takeover Target’s several millions in earnings from graded wins on three continents after taxi-driver Joe Janiak paid $1,250 for him, Undue would be Australia’s rags-to-riches headliner.

With 57kg (126 pounds), the gelded 5-year-old conceded every other of the 13 Oakleigh runners weight and a start from midrace. Shane Arnold brought Undue (15-1) around the entire field and his mount grabbed the lead near the wire in 1:02.74.

The gross time for the 125th running was exceptional as there was give in the track. The race mark is .66 of a second faster.

Until Undue’s late arrival, Poet's Voice appeared certain to cause a major upset as the 100-1 chance fought off the favorites, Magnus (11-4) and Shadoways (7-2). But the Monde Bleu son surrendered almost at the wire, going down by a half-neck to the winner’s irresistible charge.

Magnus finished a long neck away in third, Shadoways heading the unplaced division ahead of pacemaker, Crepe de Chine.

For Undue the respect has been long overdue.