Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The daughter of Dundeel (NZ) was most unlucky on debut at Bendigo in a 3YO Maiden Plate that was offering Inglis’ Xtra Maiden Bonus of $100,000 in prizemoney, finishing third beaten 2.75l after being checked and baulked for a run several times in the straight. However, she made amends on Saturday with an outstanding performance to break her maiden status.
After settling three-pairs back along the rail, Jasmin Rouge (Dundeel {NZ}) looked to be in awkward position coming into the straight as Tobeornottobe (Pierata) booted clear. But just when it seemed the race was all but over, gaps began to open up for jockey Ben Melham with Jasmin Rouge charging through late to snatch the lead and claim a valuable Group 3 win at just her second start.
“That was obviously a really strong maiden at Bendigo for $100,000 and we thought probably should have won that race with a little bit of luck, had she been able to get to the outside but that didn’t eventuate,” trainer Clinton McDonald said.
“She trained on really well, and we thought it was a nice race for her. We went to Caulfield hoping she could run a place and get some black-type next to her name. The theory was, if you go there and win well, you’ve hit the jackpot and if you go there and place, you’ve got a stakes placing and then she could have gone to Werribee two weeks later for a $100,000 Inglis race.
“The theory was, if you go there (Caulfield) and win well, you’ve hit the jackpot and if you go there and place, you’ve got a stakes placing and then she (Jasmin Rouge) could have gone to Werribee two weeks later for a $100,000 Inglis race.” - Clinton McDonald
“All the stars aligned, and we got the job done but to her credit it was a very good effort.”
Despite a deep pedigree page, Jasmin Rouge was purchased for just $70,000 at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by McDonald and was bred and sold by renowned thoroughbred nursery Segenhoe Stud.
She comes from an incredible female family, being the third winner and first stakes-winner from G3 Blue Diamond Prelude placegetter Sweetener (Snitzel), a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner Secret Agenda (Not a Single Doubt), Group 1-placed Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun) and G2 Sweet Embrace runner-up Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt), with the third dam being top 2-year-old Euphoria (Marauding).
“She’s got a great pedigree, she’s not an overly big filly but our family has always had the theory that if you have a well-bred filly they don’t need to be big,” McDonald said.
“She’s (Jasmin Rouge) got a great pedigree, she’s not an overly big filly but our family has always had the theory that if you have a well-bred filly they don’t need to be big.” - Clinton McDonald
“I know my old man won seven Group 1s with a filly called Tristarc which was 406kg; including a Caulfield Cup. Fillies seem to be able to get away with size, colts can’t but fillies can. She was a lovely filly that we bought off Segenhoe with a great pedigree, she was a lovely mover and looked very athletic.”
Jasmin Rouge became the 33rd stakes-winner for Dundeel and is bred on the same cross as his dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend, who is from Snitzel mare Sarraqa.
Clinton McDonald | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
However, she became just the 8th stakes winning filly for Dundeel with a disproportionately large number of stakes winners for the sire being colts or geldings. McDonald noted that there was something different about this filly.
“She is a little finer than a typical filly by Dundeel,” McDonald said.
“She has a real petite filly’s head on her; sometimes I find those Dundeel fillies a bit coarse, a bit heavy set whereas she is not.
Jasmin Rouge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We bought her at Melbourne Premier and I look at every horse at that sale. I think it’s a sale where you can find some hidden treasure; if you look at every horse and not worry about the pedigree and the stallions as much and just buy the horse, just buy type. We did the same thing with Vestas and she was only $120,000. Personally, I tend to not worry about the stallion as much and just have a look at the dam side.”
“We bought her (Jasmin Rouge) at Melbourne Premier... I think it’s a sale where you can find some hidden treasure; if you look at every horse and not worry about the pedigree and the stallions as much and just buy the horse, just buy type.” - Clinton McDonald
McDonald is undecided about what the immediate future holds for Jasmin Rouge but is toying with the idea of giving her one more start this preparation up in trip.
“I think she could get out to seven furlongs, but we will just play it by ear at the moment. In two weeks’ time there is the Twilight Glow, do we go there or do we give her a spell, I’m not sure,” McDonald said.
“We will just see how she is. I spoke to my staff this morning and she pulled up pretty well over night but we will put her through all our tests on Monday, trot her up and have a look at her.
“She’s done a great job so we may just go for a spell and come back for the Autumn. The other option is to see if we could get a slot in that Magic Millions race on the Gold Coast for 3-year-olds.”
Jasmin Rouge, winner of the G3 Thoroughbred Club of Australia S. at Caulfield on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Twilight Glow S. (1400 metres) is scheduled for Saturday, November 30 at Caulfield whilst the new $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight (1100 metres) slot race for 3-year-olds is set down for January 4 on the Gold Coast.
McDonald also revealed that promising stablemate Vestas (Toronado {Ire}) would also be targeting the Listed Twilight Glow S. after an eye-catching second in in the G3 Red Roses (1100 metres) behind Amelita (Zousain).
Jasmin Rouge’s dam, Sweetener (Snitzel) has a yearling filly by So You Think (NZ) that has been entered for the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January and recently foaled a colt by Capitalist.
Dundeel stands at Arrowfield Stud at a fee $88,000 (inc GST).
