The Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross is a formidable one and has produced this spring’s elite Group I winners Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) with another lightly raced import bred the same way in Gilded Water (GB) going two for two in Australia with a cavalier win at Randwick on Saturday.
Bred by The Queen and raced by King Charles and Queen Camilla, the four year-old gelding was sent to Australia to join the stable of Ciaron Maher after four starts in the UK earlier this year that included a seven and a half length maiden win at Chepstow over 2000m.
He won his first start here at Kembla last month over 200m and then revelled in the step up to 2400m to win the Benchmark 78 event by three lengths running away.
The choice of Ciaron Maher as a trainer for Gilded Water was a good one as he also trains his older half-brother Circle of Fire (GB), who won the Group I ATC Sydney Cup earlier this year.
Gilded Water is also a half-brother to Group III winner Evening Sun and is the fourth winner from four foals to race from Fiery Sunset, a winning half-sister by Galileo to stakes-winner Upcountry from a hugely successful female family tracing back to celebrated matriarch Best in Show.
The King’s racing manager John Warren is in Australia and was at Randwick on Saturday to watch the win with Ciaron Maher.
