It’s always painful to geld a well bred colt, particularly one that topped the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when selling for $2.3million, but in the case of Fastnet Rock four year-old Groundswell it might prove a masterstroke.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Groundswell was placed in the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas last spring, but some lack lustre form since then resulted in connections electing to geld the full brother to triple Group I winner Shoals.
He won easily at Cranbourne at his second run back from a spell and took another big step forward at Moonee Valley on Friday night when scoring a dominant win in the 1500m Benchmark 84 event setting a new track record of 1.28.67 seconds.
Sam Freedman indicated a trip to Sydney for the $7.5million ATC Golden Eagle next week was not out of the question if the horse pulled up well as they are only four once!
Groundswell has won three of 12 starts earning over $380,000 in prizemoney and is one of three winners from The Broken Shore, a winning half-sister by Hussonet (USA) to Group I winners Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors.
The Broken Shore has a two year-old filly by Fastnet Rock called Fjord, but has had no luck her past two seasons having missed in 2018 and then lost a foal this spring.
