The nick between champion Coolmore sires Fastnet Rock and Galileo is one of the most potent in the world and it delivered another Group I success at Flemington on Thursday when top class filly Personal shed the bridesmaid tag to win the $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m).
Third in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes at two, the Lindsay Park trained Personal was second at her past three starts this spring in Group races so was well overdue to break the ice in Black Type company and she did it in style!
Given a patient ride by Damien Oliver, Personal was produced at the right time in the straight and cruised past talented maiden Salto Angel to win by more than a length with race favourite and dual Group I winner Montefilia in third place.
It was a first Group I success for the new Lindsay Park training partnership of Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes.
“That was a massive thrill and a big thanks to all of our team at home,” said Tom Dabernig.
“She’s a very good filly. She can sprint and she can stay, she has some magnificent attributes.
“We haven’t seen the best of her either, there is still much more to come.”
A $640,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Cressfield draft for Tom Magnier/ BBA Ireland, Personal runs in the Coolmore navy blue for Coolmore and partners, that include Adrian Niccoll, who selected the filly.
She has the overall record of two wins and five placings from nine starts with earnings topping $1million.
Bred and sold by Cressfield, Personal is a sibling to stakes-placed Trope, Selectify and Laser Flash being the sixth winner from six foals to race from stakes-winning Galileo mare Personify.
A half-sister to Aussie bred Champion South African filly Laisserfaire from blue hen Procrastinate, Personify was bought by Keiran Moore Bloodstock on behalf of Cressfield for $2million at the 2008 Inglis Broodmare Sale.
Personify has not produced a foal since Personal, but was covered last spring by All Too Hard after first missing to More Than Ready (USA) and Fastnet Rock.
Personal is the 162nd stakes-winner worldwide for Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock and is his 40th Group I winner.
She is bred on the highly successful Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has now produced 20 stakes-winners, eight of them Group I winners. The nick runs at 23.5% stakes-winners to runners!
Aged 19, Fastnet Rock is the last great son of Danehill at stud and stands at a fee of $165,000 this spring.
