The Patrick Payne-trained gelding was sent out the $1.14 favourite with Harry Coffey aboard but it took almost the entire home straight to run down race leader Soul Choice from the Gai Waterhouse -Adrian Bott stable.

The winning margin was only a long neck, but good horses seem to find a way of winning and Dunkel falls into that category.

Payne was not trackside to see the win but said reports are that the gelding pulled up well and will travel south to Hobart where he will be prepared for the Tasmanian Derby over 2200m on Friday week (10 February).

Soul Choice is in Tasmania's specifically for the Tasmanian Oaks on 19 February, but she too will head south this week to be prepared for the Listed $125,000 Strutt Stakes (2100m) in Hobart on Derby Day as a lead-up to the Oaks.

Dunkel looks to have a mortgage on the Derby as he streeted the others last Friday night with Royal and Tough, Happy Clan and Araptor the only locals likely to contest the $150,000 Listed event over 2200m.

Unless there is more interstate interest this year's Derby could fizzle as a spectacle.

Soul Choice also could monopolize betting in both the Strutt Stakes and the Oaks.

Waterhouse and Bott have already put their stamp on the carnival by winning the $125,000 Tasmanian Guineas with Russian Roni.