One to Watch – Bendigo

Tara Madgwick - Friday Sep 3

Hawkes Racing have a big team of talented three year-olds running this spring and we can add this Fastnet Rock gelding to the list following his dominant win at Bendigo on Friday.

Advertisement

Fire wins with ease at Bendigo - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Fire was unremarkable when unplaced at his only run last season, but a close third at Randwick when resuming from a spell two weeks ago put him on the watch list, so an 1100m maiden looked a very winnable race on paper.

Punters thought so too and Fire went to the gates as favourite and led all the way for Fred Kersley to win by nearly three lengths eased down.
 



A $360,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Byerly Holdings from the Coolmore draft, Fire runs for a big syndicate of Hawkes stable clients and holds an entry for the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas.

Fire is a full brother to Group III placed Violinist and is the second winner from stakes-placed Hennessy mare Keep on Singing (USA), a grand-daughter of Group I Hollywood Oaks winner Pattern Step.

The Fastnet Rock x Hennessy cross has been a good one producing over 80% winners to runners and three stakes-winners in Group I winner Irish Lights, plus Group winners Zululand and Fast ‘n’ Rocking with Fire poised to add to the success.

Fastnet Rock is a Premium stallion, click for more information.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Bendigo Mazda Mdn Plate 1100m

Bendigo Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.70
1
Fire
- 3g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Keep On Singing (USA) (Hennessy (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Fred W Kersley 57
2
2.8
Spirit Of Pepin
- 3g Magnus (AUS) x Amaudru (AUS) (King Charlemagne (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Alana Kelly 57
3
3.6
Strad
- 4g Dream Ahead (USA) x Miss Octopussy (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J T Conlan Rdr: J Mott 59.5
4
4.7
Topeka
- 3f Headwater (AUS) x Wichita Woman (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Dean Holland 55
5
4.9
Joseylin
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mrs Kipling (IRE) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55.5
6
5.3
Fly On Bye
- 3g Air Force Blue (USA) x Alsariaa (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: L Currie 57
7
5.4
Rain Boy
- 3g Your Song (AUS) x New York Rain (AUS) (Statue Of Liberty (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Jack Hill 57
8
7.4
Serenaur
- 3c Star Turn (AUS) x Orlaith (AUS) (Toorak Toff (AUS))
Tnr: Brent Stanley Rdr: Liam Riordan 57
9
8.7
Imminent Risk
- 3g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Condesaar (AUS) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: John Allen 57
10
8.8
Big Time Girl
- 4m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Big Chill (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Damian Lane 57.5
11
10.8
Pindari Point
- 3g Shooting To Win (AUS) x Parriwi (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 57
12
14.8
Wildfire Rose
- 5m War (AUS) x Oamaru Rose (AUS) (Oamaru Force (AUS))
Tnr: E W Nichols Rdr: Ms A Bryan 55.5
More Reading...
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
South Australian Breeders Celebrate Cup Week Racing
Often considered the pinnacle of racing in Australia, the week-long Flemington carnival draws together four days of outstanding racing with South Australian bred runners playing a strong hand in this year’s results, winning on each of the four days.
Breeding To Win - G1 CF Orr Stakes
The last Autumn running of the CF Orr Stakes in 2025 closed a long chapter when Another Wil narrowly denied Mr Brightside consecutive victories and the historic first running of the “new” race in November last year had a worthy winner in race favourite Jimmysstar, who is back to defend his title.
G1 CF Orr Stakes - An Old Race in a New Time Slot
Four days of Flemington action are behind us for another year, and what a grand feast of horse racing it was - now Melbourne’s carnival continues with the second running of the MRC's time-honoured G1 CF Orr Stakes, in its new place on the racing calendar.
Group One performer Myakkabelle goes under the hammer on Gavelhouse Plus
Gavelhouse Plus is giving breeders the chance to add a Group One performer to their broodmare band with the auction of multiple black-type placegetter Myakkabelle.
Ace Stud Add Night of Thunder Stallion to Roster
The European sister farm to Yulong, Ace Stud have announced the addition of a new stallion to their Newmarket roster with Zeus Olympios to join Shaquille and Lucky Vega, who is finishing his Australian season in the Hunter Valley after switching from Victoria.
Expensive Ready to Run Graduate Primed for G1 NZ 2000 Guineas
There is plenty of hype surrounding promising gelding Thunder In Motion ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, and trainer Mark Forbes is hoping he can deliver in the southern Classic.
Debut Winners Join Road to TAB Karaka Millions 2YO
The $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) dream is well and truly alive for two big groups of owners following first-start victories by two-year-old fillies at Te Rapa and Tauherenikau last weekend.
Alabama Express Filly to Back up in G1 2000 NZ Guineas
Dashing Dixie was the bridesmaid last weekend when runner-up to Angels Halo in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), and her connections are hoping she can be the bride on Saturday when she backs up in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.