The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
A lightly raced colt trained by John and Thady Gosden, Military Academy was unraced at two before winning his first two starts in August and September.
He was then second in a Listed race and started favourite in this assignment, cruising home to win by more than three lengths.
Military Academy is expected to return even better in 2025.
“Military Academy started his career a little later than usual but has progressed with every start and is still learning. He's taken a step forward since Newmarket. He's got plenty of size and scope and hopefully he will mature over the winter for next year. He's run a few races in quick succession, so we'll leave him alone and bring him back next year,” said Thady Gosden.
Retained to race by his breeders Abdulla Al-Khalifa & Isa Salman, Military Academy is a half-brother to Group I winner Commissioning and is the second winner from blueblood winning Galileo mare Sovereign Parade, a full sister to Group I winner Capri, Group II winner Tower of London and Group III winners Passion and Cypress Creek.
He is the 195th stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock and is his 30th stakes-winner bred from a daughter of Galileo. The nick runs at 72.3% winner to runner and 18.8% SW to runner.
Fastnet Rock is enjoying retirement at Coolmore Australia with his place on the roster taken by his young son Acrobat, whose first yearlings will sell in 2025.
