News - FASTNET ROCK (AUS)
The $125,000 ATC Victory Vein Plate at Randwick on Saturday was won by exciting filly Anaheed (2f Fastnet Rock x Rostova), a homebred for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
Australian Horse of the Year Dissident narrowly missed posting his first winner in New Zealand at Riccarton on Tuesday when his two year-old colt Challa went down to expensive Fastnet Rock filly Puysegur.
Champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock featured at Longchamp in France on Arc day siring four year-old mare One Master to win the Group I Prix de la Foret.
Last season’s champion two-year-old Avantage was back doing what she does best when she opened her three-year-old season with a dogged winning performance at Hastings.
A $1,2 million Inglis Easter Yearling purchase in 2016 that was then re-offered earlier this year to make $1million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, talented Fastnet Rock stallion Siege of Quebec claimed his first stakes win at Randwick on Saturday with a fast finishing victory in the Group III ATC Bill Ritchie Stakes.
Group One winning galloper Age Of Fire has joined the stable of champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir in a bid to find his mojo this spring.
A brilliant winner of the Group I ATC Australian Oaks in the autumn, exciting Fastnet Rock mare Unforgotten was a well backed favourite in the Group II ATC Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and showed her class with a powerful win in the weight-for-age test over 1600m.
Last seen winning the Group I BRC Doomben Cup back in May, five year-old Fastnet Rock gelding Comin’ Through showed he will be a serious contender for further Group I success this season when resuming with a hard fought win in the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Coolmore favourites Fastnet Rock and Choisir featured overnight in Ireland with smart stakes-winners at Tipperary.
John Singleton’s homebred mare Girl Tuesday was made a Breednet “One To Watch’ following a winning career debut in a 1400 metre maiden at Newcastle last Saturday and a colt from this celebrated family steps out in the same colours at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
She was the third highest priced Fastnet Rock filly last year and Downloads finally got the maiden win out of the way at Sale on Thursday.
A full sister to Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy, Fastnet Rock filly Symi was the centre of attention at Canterbury when making her debut on Wednesday and she emerged with a win on the board.
Fastnet Rock has already had an impressive debut blueblood winner this week in More Sundays and may well have another at Canterbury today if the full sister to Group I winner Catchy has a fraction of her big sister’s ability.
The most interesting first starter anywhere in Australia today was three year old More Sundays, a royally bred colt by champion sire Fastnet Rock from John Singleton’s much loved champion mare More Joyous.
Despite just celebrating her fifth birthday, better things look in store for Laurel Oaks’ lightly raced Fastnet Rock mare Kentucky Diva following a dominant win in a benchmark 64 over 2100 metres at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday.
Progressive Fastnet Rock gelding Dreamforce has been knocking on the door of a stakes success and it came at Rosehill on Saturday when he scored a tenacious victory in the Listed ATC Winter Stakes.
A winning double at Sha Tin on Sunday for champion sire Fastnet Rock highlighted his success in Hong Kong this season where he is the leading sire by individual winners.
Australian bred Royal Ascot hero Merchant Navy will be retired from racing without another start and will travel back to Australia as planned to begun the breeding season at Coolmore Australia this spring.
Outstanding Fastnet Rock colt Merchant Navy left Australia earlier this year as the best three year-old sprinter in the country and is now one of the best in the world after capturing the Group I Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot overnight for Coolmore.
The versatility of champion sire Fastnet Rock will be highlighted at Royal Ascot tonight when his tough staying son Torcedor carries the Te Akau colours of David Ellis in the Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup over the extreme staying trip of two miles and four furlongs, a race won by his close relation Yeats an astonishing four times.