October 26th, 2008

“He showed a lot in his trials and it came through well today. He is a real little professional,” said Melanie Martin, representing her husband Tim.

“He never handled the track at Randwick first-up and should improve with the run.”

Retained to race by his breeders, Zikmann is the first foal of smart metropolitan winning Tale of the Cat mare Belle Feline, whose dam Belle Star is a full sister to dual Group One winner Ray’s Hope.

Belle Feline was covered by Fastnet Rock again last spring and produced a full brother to Zikmann on September 22.

After covering his first three books of mares at a fee of $55,000, Coolmore based Fastnet Rock had a fee increase this year based on the response to his first yearlings (now two year-olds) and stands at $82,500.

October 19th, 2008

Champion sprinter Fastnet Rock sired his first winner when two year-old filly San Cristobel won the 900 metre maiden at Bendigo on Saturday by more than two lengths.

Making her debut, San Cristobel settled just behind the leader and finished off too well to score a stylish victory.  

The Lee Freedman trained filly was purchased for $700,000 from the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2008 NZB Premier Yearling Sale by BBA Ireland and is raced by a syndicate that includes Coolmore Stud, Demi O’Byrne, Lord Sam Vestey and Dean Fleming.

San Cristobel is the second foal of the Group Three winning Dehere (USA) mare Galapagos Girl, a half-sister to star producer Procrastinate, dam of multiple Group One winner Laisserfaire, stakes-winners Foreplay and Personify as well as this season’s top class three year-old Time Thief, runner up in the Group One MRC Caulfield Guineas.

Fastnet Rock is a hot favourite to be leading first season sire in Australia this season, his progeny having sold tremendously well at the sales this year and San Cristobel is likely to be the first of many winners for the Coolmore based son of Danehill (USA).

February 18th, 2008

STALLIONS takes a look at the outstanding array of talent among the sires with first crop yearlings for sale in 2008. 

This week STALLIONS looks at Fastnet Rock’s credentials. 

Gone, but not forgotten, might be a good way to describe Fastnet Rock’s sire, Danehill. As the results roll in each week not only does he feature as the sire the Group I C.F. Orr Stakes winner, Shinzig, he also appears on a regular basis as the sire of the sire. Over the last two weeks Danehill has appeared as the sire of the sire for both Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude winners, Wilander and Believe’N’Succeed (Exceed and Excel) and two Listed winners La Chasseuse (Lion Hunter) and the very exciting Light Fantastic (Danehill Dancer).

So when his son, Fastnet Rock, retired to stud in 2005 it's easy to see why Coolmore were swamped with enquiries from breeders in New Zealand and Australia. The stud accepted 208 mares to be covered by the sprinting son of Danehill in his debut season at $55,000.00.

After all he had been among the leaders of his crop since early in his two-year-old career. He had finished second in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes and Group 3 Skyline Stakes. In his classic year he won his first group one event at the sprint distance of 1000m the VRC Lightning Stakes and his second group one at 1100m under handicap conditions in the Oakleigh Plate where he carried 57 ½ kilos against older opposition and beat them easily. 

With wins in the Group 2 AJC Up and Coming Stakes, VRC Linlithgow Stakes, the Group 3 Rory's Jester Stakes, the Tattersall's Club (NSW) Roman Consul Stakes he was crowned Champion Sprinter and 3YO Colt in Australasia.

He does after all come from a notably speedy family. His dam, Piccadilly Circus, was a very sharp youngster, who captured the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude and Debutante Stakes, and earned group one placing with a third in the Blue Diamond Stakes. Fastnet Rock is her third foal, along with siblings Cirque du Soliel, a winner who was twice stakes placed, Theatre of Dreams, winner of his only two starts and Sarasota a winner. 

By Royal Academy, Piccadilly Circus was out of another speedster in the shape of Gatana. This daughter of Marauding won the Red Roses Stakes and Hilton on the Park Sprint and among her placings was a second in the Group I Newmarket Handicap.

Although there are exceptions to every “rule” breeding mares back to stallions from their own immediate male line tends to have a below opportunity strike rate. Danehill, a grandson of Northern Dancer, has bucked this trend to a greater degree than most, probably because his grandam, Spring Adieu, is a half-sister to Northern Dancer. 

Fastnet Rock has 13 yearlings on offer at the William Inglis Premier Yearling Sale (March 1st-6th) in Victoria. A lone yearling is on offer at the Adelaide Magic Millions (March 10- 12th). He has 41 yearlings catalogued for sale at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Premier sale (March 24 - April 2nd). While at the Inglis Classic Yearling sale (April 3rd – 11th) Fastnet Rock has six yearlings on offer and at the Inglis Select Easter Yearling sale he has a massive 51 yearlings up for auction.

February 18th, 2008

A colt by exciting first season sire Fastnet Rock has shot to the top of the leader board at the BMW Magic Millions Yearling Sale at Belmont. 

The colt, from the Group Three winning Volksraad mare Huka, attracted plenty of interest when he entered the ring as part of the Gervase Park Stud draft. When the hammer fell it was leading Perth trainer Wally Mitchell who held the bid, on behalf of prominent stable client Santoso Wirya, at $280,000.

"He was our number one pick of the catalogue," Mitchell revealed after.
"We valued him at $250,000 - but it's just great to be able to get him," he added.
"We saw him a couple of weeks ago up at Gervase Park Stud and we immediately liked him."

Mitchell is hoping that the colt can develop into a star on the racetrack.

"We've finished second in the Magic Millions (Perth 2YO Classic) the past two years, so we're hoping this is the horse to take us one step better," Mitchell added with a laugh.

Catalogued as lot number 202, the bay colt is from the first crop of Coolmore's exciting young Danehill horse Fastnet Rock.  A six time winner, Fastnet Rock is best remembered for his Group One victories in both the Lightning Stakes and Oakleigh Plate in Melbourne.

June 1st, 2007

A first crop son of the brilliant Danehill racehorse Fastnet Rock topped the second session of the Magic Millions Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast on Thursday, May 31st, 2007.  Offered as Lot 809 on account of Glastonbury Farm as agent, the colt, a son of the Scenic mare Bumps, was knocked down to Magic Millions for $370,000. 

SESSION TWO TOP SELLERS

$370,000 – Fastnet Rock-Bumps colt Vendor: Glastonbury Farm (As Agent) / Buyer: Magic Millions as agent (Qld)

$180,000 – Fastnet Rock-Metal of Honor filly Robyn Wise (As Agent) / Peter Walker (NZ).

May 29th, 2005

    News in during the last week that star sprinter Fastnet Rock has arrived in England. The three-year-old touched down late Thursday Australian time following a long-haul flight from Sydney via Hong Kong and Dubai.

    Trainer Paul Perry, whose foreman son Shannon made the trip with Fastnet Rock, confirmed the colt had coped with the ordeal well and was in good order.

    Fastnet Rock is being aimed at Choisir's famous international double the Kings Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.  He is stabled at the Newmarket base of English trainer Geoff Wragg.