The all conquering nick between champion sires Fastnet Rock and Galileo struck again overnight with a new stakes-winner in the UK when four year-old gelding Poker Face won the Listed Pomfret Stakes (1m) at Pontefract.
Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Poker Face won his first three starts last year in handicap races, but has been tried in stakes company this year and has been racing well albeit without winning.
Sent out favourite for this assignment, he scored a three-quarter length win and has now won four of eight starts.
“I think we'll stick to a mile, that was James's first thought after the race. There are plenty of Group 3 options for Poker Face now, the Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury, the Strensall at York and a race in Ireland. He likes the course and he's won here three times now,” said Liam Elvidge, racing manager to Simon and Ed Crisford.
Poker Face was bought at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale by Richard Frisby Bloodstock for 95,000 guineas and is a full brother to stakes-winner Star Devine being the second winner from Stars at Night, a winning half-sister by Galileo to triple Group I winner and Champion 3YO Filly Blue Bunting.
He is the 193rd stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock and is his 29th from a daughter of Galileo, the nick running at 20%SW to runner and 73.6% winner to runner with 106 winners from 144 starters.
Fastnet Rock stands at a fee of $110,000 this spring.
