"We think she is gorgeous," said breeder Bob Zappone of his filly out of the Redoute's Choice mare Echo Princess whilst Scott Wickham was full of praise for his filly of first time mum Mrs The King – "we are so excited, we can't wait to breed to Rock Hero again. He is producing such beautiful natured foals and everyone who sees our filly is overwhelmed - I cannot recommend this young stallion more, he is going to be an absolute superstar!"
"We are ever so grateful to have the opportunity to breed to such a magnificent stallion with such purple bloodlines."
Fellow owner Loue Nolen agreed. "Thank you for our wonderful filly. She is
a big beautiful foal, we are so very happy with the result. We will be back
next year."Just as excited is Lauriston's Chris Bakker who was happy from the moment the first progeny of Rock Hero appeared - "they are all strong, bold foals with great temperaments. They have scope, size and athleticism."
"I have seen most of them and there isn't one I would say will not make a racehorse."
LP Stallion's Julie Nairn agreed; "the Rock Hero foals have both strength and quality and we are so looking forward to seeing them on the track."
A brilliant winner of the Listed Dulcify Quality, Rock Hero is one of 124 stakes winners for Fastnet Rock who is proving his worth as a sire of sires with eight of his sons - including Foxwedge (sire of Group One winner Foxplay), Stryker (Rangipo),Hinchinbrook (Press Statement) and the promising young horses Your Song and Smart Missile.
Currently Australia's fourth leading sire, Fastnet Rock enjoyed a terrific spring carnival with the likes of Merchant Navy (Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Gr.3 McNeill Stakes), Shoals (Gr.1 Myer Classic), Deploy (Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes), Formality (Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes, Gr.2 Silver Shadow Stakes, Gr.2 Furious Stakes), Catchy (Gr.2 Danehill Stakes), Comin' Through (Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap), Fast 'N' Rocking (Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes) and Missrock (Listed Carlyon Stakes) proving their worth at the highest level.
He is also in flying form in the northern hemisphere with his daughter Laganore a recent Group One winner whilst Star Rock, Casterton and One Master have also been successful at stakes level in the last month or so.
Meanwhile Fastnet Rock's dam sire, the legendary Galileo, continues to make his
mark with his son Johannes Vermeer placed in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups
whilst his progeny have won no less than 20 stakes races since the start of
September.Four of the recently announced Cartier awards went to Galileos and the Fastnet Rock/Galileo cross continues to excel with Star Rock a UK Listed winner last week.
Just short of 80% of the 43 horses bred on this cross are winners with 14 - a simply astounding 32.5% - being stakes winners!
Galileo's influence as a broodmare sire (87 stakes winners and counting) was also felt locally during the spring carnival with his daughters producing the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes winner Luvuluva and the Listed Cranbourne Cup winning, Gr.1 W.S Cox Plate placegetter Folkswood.
Being a descendant of the legendary Mumtaz Mahal from the same branch of this prolific family as the legendary Nasrullah, Rock Hero is out the multiple Group winning daughter Gallant Tess who produced another impressive winner just recently.
The five times Group One placed mare has a Classic candidate in the shape of All Too Soon who, like Rock Hero, is trained by David Payne.
"I like All Too Soon a lot," he said of the All Too Hard filly who impressed saluting at Randwick over 1800m.
"She looks like she wants further, the longer that race went on the stronger she got. She has an exciting future, we will give her a month off and have a look at the ATC Oaks in the autumn."
David Payne is still celebrating his VRC Derby victory with Ace High who races in the same orange, black and white colours of Rock Hero's owner and breeder John Cordina.
"If your mare is not in foal give us a ring," Chris Bakker said, noting that Rock Hero's exceptional fertility is a big tick for the owner/breeder.
For further information on Rock Hero contact Lauriston Park's Chris and Kathie Bakker (0427 903 353) or LP Stallion's Julie Nairn (0402 901 910)
