Like Father, Like Son

Tara Madgwick - Monday Aug 28

Beautiful spring weather at Coolmore on Sunday was enjoyed by a big crowd in attendance for the annual stallion parade with legendary sire Fastnet Rock the first into the ring followed by his heir apparent.

Fastnet Rock, click for more info and a Hypo mating.

Fastnet Rock has just turned 22 and is the most successful Australian bred sire of Group I winners in history with 43 on his resume and it was business as usual for him over the weekend.

On Saturday, his progressive staying son Absurde earned a shot at the Melbourne Cup when winning the £500,000 Ebor Hcp at York with Frankie Dettori on board. The Willie Mullins trained stayer could be on the plane to Australia later this year to join his stablemate Vauban, who is an early favourite for the Melbourne Cup. Read about him here.

Advertisement

On Sunday, Fastnet Rock gelding Poker Face claimed his second Black Type victory when taking out the Group III Prix Quincey (1m) at Deauville for Simon and Ed Crisford. He scored by half a length and with five wins and two seconds from nine starts is building an impressive record.

Acrobat, click for more info and a Hypo mating.

The legacy of Fastnet Rock is set to continue at Coolmore with his brilliantly fast son Acrobat being given every opportunity having covered 188 mares last spring at a fee of $13,750.

Those mares are producing some gorgeous babies with this perfect colt from Encosta de Lago mare Got to be a Dream born at Fairhill Farm in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Inglis Digital Purchase Iron Hawk to Tackle G3 TAB Mile
Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon bought Iron Hawk last year with New Zealand Cup Week in mind, and now the moment has arrived, with the stakes performer set to tackle the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
G1 Aussie Pedigree Watch –Newly Minted
Pedigree does matter if you want to be winning races longer than 1200m, although in an interesting twist a colt bred on face value for speed is in fact from the family of Zabeel.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Haras d'Etreham Set Fee for Hotazhell
Triple Group I winner Hotazhell will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham in France at a fee of €15,000 next year before then shuttling to Widden Stud in Australia.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 9
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Frankel Heads Juddmonte Euro Roster at £350,000
Fresh from siring outstanding young stayer Point of Law (GB) to win the $10m Group I VRC Melbourne Cup, champion sire Frankel will again top the roster at Banstead Manor Stud for Juddmonte.
Manzor Blue Heads to Sandown Cup
Palmerston North mare Manzor Blue claimed valuable Australian black type when runner-up in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday, and she will now try to go one better in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) later this month.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 8
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.