The exciting career of Pencarrow graduate Dunkel(NZ) (Dundeel) went to another new level on Friday with a last-gasp triumph in the A$150,000 Listed Schweppes Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart.

Ridden by Harry Coffey, the gelding went into the race as a red-hot favourite after winning all of his previous three starts, headed by the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m) on January 27.

There were a few nervous moments during the running, with Dunkel left flat-footed and badly blocked when the pace went on coming into the home turn. But Coffey drove his mount through a needle-eye gap in the straight and Dunkel quickened superbly, getting up to win by a neck.

It was the fifth win of a six-start career for Dunkel, who has now earned A$394,500 in prize-money.

“We were very nervous in the run, but he has given us a few frights along the way,” said Annie de Morton, stable representative for trainer Patrick Payne. “He has never let us down, and it was a thrill.

“Drawing barrier two was never going to help him, but sometimes you need a bit of luck, and he got it at the right time.

“The Tasmanian Derby has been on the radar since he won at Moonee Valley last October. We will see how he pulls up, but the South Australian Derby (Group One, 2500m) has been mentioned, although that’s a fair way off.”

Dunkel was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and was offered in Pencarrow’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2021, where Steven Ramsay bought him for $40,000. He returned to Karaka later that year for the Ready to Run Sale, where he was knocked down to Kevin Myers for $100,000.

Dunkel is by Dundeel (NZ), whose glittering 19-start, 10-win career included six triumphs at Group One level. He has gone on to be an outstanding sire in Australia, with 231 winners from 381 runners to date including 19 individual stakes winners.

The dam of Dunkel is Kudamm (Cape Cross), who won four races in the Pencarrow colours and placed in the Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

Kudamm has a perfect record as a broodmare, with all of her five foals winning races. Garfunkel (NZ) (Excellent Art) won four races, while Remington (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Mint Julep (NZ) (Darci Brahma) have collected five wins each. Marcolt (NZ) (Reliable Man) won three races.