The juvenile event at Rosehill on Saturday featured some promising winners and well bred first starters with Fastnet Rock colt Mayfair proving too fast and too tough for his rivals.
Having his second start following a debut second on a heavy track at the start of the month, that Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Mayfair took benefit from that outing and appreciated firmer footing and a step out to 1200m.
Under a positive ride from James McDonald he controlled the race from the front and fought off the challenge of race favourite Mawjood to win by half a length with blue blood Justify (USA) filly Mergeila (first foal of G1 winner Invincibella) a good third.
“He’s got plenty of quality about him and plenty of toughness and that took him a long way today,” said Adrian Bott.
“He’s a casual type of horse that does just what is needed and I’m sure there is a bit more there and enough of a response.
“There’s plenty of upside and he should appreciate getting over a little further.”
A $625,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for China Horse Club/Newgate/Go/Trilogy, Mayfair was bred by SF Bloodstock and foaled and raised at Newgate. He is the second winner from stakes-winning imported Violence mare Cicatrix (USA), who had a filly last spring by Extreme Choice and appears to be back in foal to him again.
Newgate’s Henry Field was at the track to see Mayfair in action and there are plans afoot for the spring.
“Henry is here today so we can have a discussion and see what our spring targets might be as we believe he can measure up in that grade,” Bott added.
Coolmore Stud’s champion sire Fastnet Rock was retired from stud duty this year.
