Atlantic Jewel’s winning streak came to a conclusion, when she was narrowly beaten by It’s A Dundeel, in the weight for age Underwood Stakes.

In what was to prove an epic event, champagne racing at its very best, the crowds waited in anticipation while shadows began to creep in to what had been a long day.

The first lady of the turf, Atlantic Jewel, remained calm in the pre post parade, the same could not be said for those closely connected to the mare, you could feel the tension of the occasion.

She opened in the red at odds on, and shortened slightly at post time, the only runner backed against her was the New Zealander, It’s A Dundeel, who was to prove her downfall.

Atlantic Jewel began surprising well from a centre gate, Michael Rodd allowed her to stride out, she was under no pressure to lead as the field made its way to the hill, on the Neerim Road side of the course.

Soon after James McDonald allowed It’s A Dundeel further rein, he was then at the girth of the favourite while the Oaks success, Dear Demi, was handy running third.

It was basically a three horse race from the start, the only other horse that looked a chance was Happy Trails, he finished up running fourth.

It’s A Dundeel’s previous winning form was centred around his own age group during the Sydney autumn carnival.

He has since made the transition to weight for age, and has now been installed as second favourite to Atlantic Jewel for the Cox Plate, at Moonee Valley.

It's A Dundeel doing a shade better than Atlantic Jewel

James McDonald rode a superb race on the winner, with not a lot of pace in the race the decision to go forward paid off handsomely.

It’s A Dundeel will now move onto the Caulfield Stakes in two weeks, with another fortnight into the Cox Plate, whether Mark Kavanagh follows the same path with Atlantic Jewel is likely, but yet not confirmed.

The Melbourne Cup favourite, Puissance De Lune, was that far back in the field he was out of firing range, however, he did run on fairly without ever looking a chance.

No decisions have been made with the Cup favourite, the Turnbull Stakes and the MacKinnon Stakes maybe the best avenue to take, he has little chance of a pre run at Moonee Valley that would not be the ideal way to go leading into a Cox Plate.

Happy Trails was by far the best run in the race outside of the three placegetters; Manighar held his ground for most of the trip, there may be a race to suit over further during the carnival.

Green Moon, the Melbourne Cup winner of last year, didn’t do a lot; he was well back in the field for most of the way and hardly improved his position in the run home.

While his stable mate, Sea Moon, was highly disappointing, it was a most lethargic performance, he never got into the race at any stage.

The three horses in the leading division filling the placings all were out of Zabeel mares,that was not the first time he has scored the trifecta, in 1999 he sired all three placings in the Caulfield Cup, Sky Heights, Laebeel and Inaflury.

It's A Dundeel with James McDonald up