Another Fastnet 2YO Winner

Godolphin returned to the yearling sales as significant purchasers in 2018 and gained a big result when one of those purchases Exhilarates won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic earlier this year and it was another filly they bought at auction that won them the first race of the last metropolitan meeting of the season in Sydney at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Fastnet Rock filly Avon River was a $500,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Godolphin from the Rushton Park draft and was up and running in January to place behind classy colt Hightail on debut at Randwick and was also fourth to subsequent Group I winner Castelvecchio in the $2million Inglis Millennium.

The James Cummings trained filly spelled after that effort and while her first two runs back this time in delivered moderate fourth placings at Caulfield, she showed there was more to offer with her effort today.

Avon River appeared to appreciate the better ground and hit the line hard for Tommy Berry to win the 1300 metre maiden by a long head over her stablemate Promotions with nearly four lengths back to the third horse.

"It's great to see her back on track," said James Cummings, who will be looking to target Black Type with Avon River in coming months.

"The margin back to the third horse would suggest the first two can mix it with the better three year-olds in the next few months."

Avon River is the second winner from stakes-winning Artie Schiller (USA) mare Lady Melksham, who has a weanling colt by Pride of Dubai and is in foal to Russian Revolution.

Avon River is the 17^th two year-old winner of the season for Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock, who has had a great run with his juveniles this year who include Group I winner Prince Fawaz and Group II winner Anaheed. He stands at a fee of $165,000.