Expensive Fastnet Rock colt Setanta may never be as good as his famous Royal Ascot conquering full brother Merchant Navy, but he is now a stakes-winner after scoring a determined win in the $200,000 Listed BRC Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Previously trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Setanta was switched to the stables of champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan earlier this year and produced a win and a fourth at his first two runs for his new trainer in lesser grade.
Easy in the market for this assignment coming off a short freshen up, Setanta charged home from the back of the field under Ryan Maloney to score a thrilling last stride win.
A big powerful colt that has needed time to mature, Setanta was bought by Aquis from the Segenhoe draft at Inglis Easter for $2.3million and was the second highest priced horse of the sale.
He runs in the Aquis colours for a syndicate of owners that include his breeder Chris Barham and Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien with his overall record now reading three wins and three placings from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $185,000.
The last foal of his dam, Setanta is a full brother to dual Group I winner and exciting young sire Merchant Navy as well as Group II winner Jolie Bay and is the seventh winner from nine foals to race from Group II winning Snippets mare Legally Bay, who died in 2019.
Merchant Navy stands at Coolmore and had his first yearlings selling this year for up to $500,000.
Setanta is the 14th Australian stakes-winner this season for Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock, which is one more than any other sire.
He is the 175th stakes-winner overall for Fastnet Rock, who stands at a fee of $165,000 this spring.
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