After a frustrating run of placegetters, Darley Stud’s 4-time Group 1 winner Blue Point (IRE) broke the ice in Australia when Blue Rocket made a winning debut in the National Pump And Energy Plate (1000m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Ridden by Natasha Faithfull for Ben and Daniel Pearce, Blue Rocket led at every call to defeat the Showtime filly This'll Show Ya by two lengths, with the short-priced favourite Siren Assault (Rich Enuff) back in third.
Blue Point (IRE) sired the Group III Maribyrnong Plate runner-up Blue Stratum, Listed Talindert Stakes runner-up Reasonable Point, and the Max Lees 2yo Classic runner-up Efharisto, in addition to the placegetters Blue Illusion, Blue Eye Dame, Fast Blue, and Bosustow, before breaking through with his 17th Australian runner.
A homebred for Oakland Park Stud, Blue Rocket is the first foal of the Rogano mare Catherine Wheel, who won three and placed in three of her ten starts.
A granddaughter of the Group III WATC Sires' Produce Stakes, Listed WATC Belgravia Stakes, and Listed WATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Paris Petard (Mujahid), from the family of Ranvet Stakes winner Arkady, Catherine Wheel has a yearling brother to Blue Rocket and a colt foal by Shooting To Win.
After covering 101 mares at his fourth season at Darley Stud’s Northwood Park at a fee of $44,000, Blue Point (IRE) returned to Kildangan Stud, Ireland with a fee increase to €60,000 following a memorable first crop that included two Group 1 winners.
