Mosheen (3 f Fastnet Rock - Sumehra, by Stravinsky) gave new Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida a quick return on his investment with a brilliant win in Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes (1200m).

Ridden as usual by Danny Nikolic, Mosheen came with a easy challenge into the straight to win eased down. That’s The One (Snippetson) ran on in the straight to take second place ahead of Highly Recommended (Fastnet Rock).

Yoshida recently purchased a 50 percent of the VRC Oaks winner. “The big boss (Yoshida) from over in Japan was just on the phone and he is ecstatic,” Sly, who struck up a relationship with Yoshida when he met him in Japan last year, said. ”We just got on together and he likes to drink a bit of red wine from Australia and party a bit.”

Jockey Danny Nikolic said Mosheen was going to win before the home turn when she tracked into the race with ease. ”I had the race won a long way out, from about the 600 metres,” Nikolic said. ”She had relaxed well and I just let her cruise up to them on the turn and when I asked her to sprint she showed a good turn of foot.”

“There is so much scope to this filly. She can win over six furlongs and she can win over a mile and a half. It is all thumbs up for her.”

“You just question if they can come back in the autumn after a short break but she did it well and actually popped her ears up to the line,” Smerdon said.

Te Akau Racing David Ellis sparked the NZB Premier Sale into life on Tuesday afternoon when outlasting Coolmore for a colt by Fastnet Rock out of Nureyev’s Girl (USA) at $NZ1.75 million to top the sale.

Vendor Sir Patrick Hogan predicted the Cambridge Stud-consigned  colt to be the star of the show before selling started at Karaka this week and that’s how it played out with a heated bidding duel between underbidders Coolmore Stud and Ellis of Te Akau Stud.

The sixth seven-figure yearling ever bought by Ellis at Karaka, he admits he paid more than he expected he would. ”I did expect a high price for this colt, and I thought I would get him for about $1.5 million, but the others went beyond that. Demi O’Byrne is a world renowned judge of yearlings and he said this colt is the best he has seen at a sale in the last 10 years,”

“I wanted to secure him for the New Zealand racing and breeding industry, it is essential that we retain horses like this in New Zealand. He is an outstanding individual and the fact that he’s by such a great sire out of a Nureyev mare gives him the potential to win Group 1 races.

David Ellis with the Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl colt

“He is already 90% sold with the remaining 10% to be sold this week and I don’t anticipate that will be very difficult to do. He will be trained by Jason Bridgman with a racing campaign intended to maximise his stud potential. If he’s as good as his sister we will be very happy.”

Earlier in the day Hong Kong-based agent Willy Leung outbid Wally Mitchell from Perth to sign at $800,000 for the three-quarter-brother to So You Think when buying the Windsor park Stud consigned colt by High Chaparral out of La Souvenir (Nuclear Freeze).

“We came here wanting to but a Derby type of horse and I was lucky to have two clients that wanted buy quality horses of this type.” Like his $650,000 High Chaparral purchase on the first day of the sale, Leung said the La Souvenir colt will remain in New Zealand to be broken and possibly race before a decision is made on his future.

Rock ‘N’ Pop (3 c Fastnet Rock - Popsy, by Sir Tristram) proved the strongest in the NZB Insurance Karaka 3yo Mile (Listed) over 1600m at Ellerslie on Sunday. The Te Akau Racing owned colt was pushed through a needle-eye opening int the straight and go clear and then find plenty to hold out Mosh Pitt (Scaredee Cat) with Fort Lincoln (Charge Forward) in third.

“There is a lot of improvement to come in this horse,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said. “He is by Fastnet Rock and is worth a lot of money as a stallion prospect so to win a race like this is excellent.”

Ellis paid $NZ1 million for Rock ‘N’ Pop as a yearling at the 2010 NZB Karaka Premier Sale and trainer Jason Bridgman has already prepared the 3yo to win the NZ 2000 Guineas last year. Bridgman indicated that the Avondale Guineas is the next race for Rock ‘N’ Pop.

“He’s good and showed a lot of courage,” jockey Matthew Cameron explained. “He was not suited by the heavy footing last time but today was much better and he will improve a lot for the run. A good effort.”

The 2012 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale  got off to a solid start at Newmarket on Sunday, with two lots sharing top price of $100,000. 110 lots sold during the session, grossing $3.49 million with 79% of the yearlings offered sold at an average of $31,770 and median of $27,500.

The two $100,000 transactions took place within five lots, firstly by Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Fastnet Rock filly from Polite and then Bowness Stud’s Beautiful Crown (USA) colt from Pretty Special.

The Beautiful Crown-Pretty Special colt (Lot 47) received a timely update just a few weeks ago when his half-brother Kontiki Park scored in the Listed BRC Bernborough Handicap and then again just over a week ago when winning the Magic Millions Stayers Cup at the Gold Coast and this colt will be trained by Kontiki Park’s trainer  Gai Waterhouse after being sold to Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds.

Lot 47 Beautiful Crown - Pretty Special colt

The Fastnet Rock-Polite filly (Lot 43) will head into the stables of Secret Admirer’s trainer Grahame Begg after being knocked down to Topline Thoroughbreds.

The filly is the first foal of the imported mare Polite, a daughter of Elusive Quality with the third-dam of this filly the influential Fanfreluche, whose descendants include champion sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur.

“Today’s figures are slightly down on those recorded for this session twelve months ago, but I do congratulate our vendors for meeting the current market”, said Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster.

Day One Statistics

(2011 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 150 (150)

Gross: $3,494,727 ($3,608,000)

Average Price: $31,770 ($34,692)

Median Price: $27,500 ($30,000)

Top Price: $100,000 ($95,000)

Lots Sold: 110 (104)

Lots Withdrawn: 10 (17)

Lots Passed In: 30 (29)

Sold %: 79 (78)

The Magic Millions Yearling Sale has a new top-price lot after the second day of trade on the Gold Coast on Thursday when a colt by Fastnet Rock (lot 265) sold for $960,000. There was fierce competition for the colt, who was eventually knocked down to agent James Bester on behalf of Coolmore.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said he was delighted to be able to secure the colt, offered by Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park. ”He is on fire at the moment,” Magnier said of Fastnet Rock.”James (Bester) and Demi (O’Byrne) absolutely loved the horse and they were raving about him all week.”

“We are really trying to get the good Fastnet Rock colts. He has plenty of quality and we really wanted to buy him. We knew there were plenty of people interested in him and we would have to do a bit of fighting to get him.”

Fastnet Rock - Rose Of Cimmaron colt

The colt is out of the Sydney winner Rose of Cimmaron, a sister to Gr 3 winner Mica’s Pride, the dam of Gr 2 winner Varenna Miss. Rose Of Cimmaron is also a half-sister to this season’s Melbourne Stakes winner Amah Rock, a son of Fastnet Rock.

Another highlight of the session was when Gai Waterhouse and James Harron outlasted the Segenhoe Stud team to secure Strawberry Hill Stud’s More Than Ready filly from Sugar Babe for $600,000.

Some 11 yearlings sold for prices of $350,000 or more during today’s session where the yearlings averaged over $140,000. The sale gross is now over $33.5 million for 262 lots sold at an average price of $127,977,  up marginally on the figure after two sessions last year.

The clearance rate of 75 per cent yesterday has now risen to over 81 per cent for the sale.”We couldn’t be much happier with today’s proceedings,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. ”Competition was strong throughout the day and it was great to see some outstanding results for vendors from around the country.”

“To see the clearance rate at 81 per cent for the sale is terrific considering at the same stage of the sale last year we were hovering around 77 per cent.”

Randwick trainer Gai Waterhouse was the major beneficiary at the barrier draw for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Her two representatives, fillies Driefontein (Fastnet Rock - Follow Gold, by Export Price) and No Looking Back (Redoute’s Choice - Mirror Mirror, by Dehere), drew perfectly in barriers three and four respectively.

The duo’s perceived major rival, the Kelso Wood-trained Sizzling (Snitzel - Admirelle, by General Nediym) also fared well in the draw for Saturday’s $2 million showpiece.

Black Caviar and Frankel dominated the headlines following the release of the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings (WTR) by the International Federation of Horse Authorities in London overnight.

In a remarkable year where Black Caviar won all eight starts including six at Group One level and extended her career winning sequence to 16, the Peter Moody- trained mare was assigned a rating of 132 by the WTR Committee and for the second successive year is the Champion Sprinter in the World.

Black Caviar had been published with an interim rating of 130 after her brilliant win in the Newmarket Handicap in March and in the final listings has had that rating lifted to 132.

Australia’s representative on the WTR Committee, Greg Carpenter said “The rating assigned to Black Caviar reflects her absolute dominance in the Newmarket Handicap where she gave weight and trounced her rivals to win in the fastest time ever recorded in the 138 year history of Australia’s iconic sprint race.”

Australian-bred topped three categories on the Rankings with Sepoy (Elusive Quality) and Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) heading their respective divisions.

Sepoy was assigned a rating of 123 for his victories against older horses in the Gr 1 Manikato Stakes at WFA and the Gr 2 Caulfield Sprint under handicap conditions against older horses. The Peter Snowden-trained colt was the Champion 3yo Sprinter in the World in 2011.

The son of Elusive Quality is set to contest the G1 Oakleigh Plate over 1100m at  Caulfield next month, before travelling to Dubai for the World Cup Carnival and then will be campaigned in Europe in the major short course sprints.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Atlantic Jewel was the Champion 3yo Filly in the Intermediate distance category for her 7 length romp in the Gr 2 Wakeful Stakes at Flemington over 2000m. Atlantic Jewel was assigned a rating of 121 for that win, as she was for her brilliant victory over Mosheen in the Gr 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield over 1600m.

She shared the title of Champion Filly in the mile category with outstanding French trained filly Immortal Verse (121), who defeated Goldikova in winning the Gr 1 Jacques le Marois against older horses at Deauville in August.

“The 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings again confirmed Australia as a major player in World Racing and are a stunning advertisement for the quality of Australia’s racing and breeding industries,” Carpenter said

Harry’s Magic (3 g Fastnet Rock - Paperback, by King’s Best) broke through for a maiden success when scoring in Friday’s $12,000 Cranbourne Holden Maiden Plate (1400m) at Cranbourne.

Craig Newitt had to get busy on Harry’s Magic who defeated Cousin Andy (Niello) by a short-head with Greek Legend (Fusaichi Pegasus) third. Harry’s Magic was positioned in fourth place by Newitt who pushed on into the lead once heads were turned for home. Challenged strongly in the straight Harry’s Magic fought on strongly to score.

Racing in the now familiar Slade Bloodstock silks, Harry’s Magic sold for $100,000 as a yearling at the 2010 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud, who consign a filly by Dane Shadow out of Paperback (GB) to this year’s Classic sale as lot 17.

Harry’s Magic is the third winner in the past week for Fastnet Rock following the impressive victory of Sea Siren (3 f Fastnet Rock - Express A Smile, by Success Express) at Canterbury on Wednesday and A Rocking Good Way (3 f Fastnet Rock - Chief Testimony, by Thunder Gulch) who broke her Maiden at Morphettville over 1250m the same day.

Fastnet Rock is enjoying a fine run of success of late and looks to have another stakes prospect following the impressive win of Sea Siren (3 f Fastnet Rock - Express A Smile, by Success Express) in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Sea Siren overcame a tardy start and was then too strong in the straight, beating home Mickelberg (Hussonet) in good style.

“I nearly went straight over the front of her at the start but she recovered quickly,” jockey Glyn Schofield said. “Once she gathered herself in, she lengthened well and was never going to be beaten.

“She’s still racing a bit keen, she might have got a bit of a fright after what happened at the start. I think she would cope with the step up to Saturday grade quite comfortably.”

Trainer John O’Shea indicated that Sea Siren would have a short break before being prepared for better races in the  autumn. ”She was strong on the line. She’ll have a break and come back for a race like the Light Fingers, if she performs there we might look at Queensland.”

An outstanding display of speed has enabled Driefontein (Fastnet Rock - Follow Gold, by Export Price) to become the 24^th individual stakes winner for Coolmore glamour sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) in Saturday’s Listed B J McLachlan Classic (1200m) at Doomben.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained youngster jumped smartly from the barriers to share the lead with two of her rivals before Driefontein exploded away in the straight to score a decisive win. Driefontein’s success took his record to two wins from as many starts and propelled the filly to favouritism for next month’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).

Star Thoroughbreds founder Denise Martin paid $75,000 for the filly at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier in 2011. Predictably, Martin sung the praises of the Magic Millions yearling sales.

“I’ve had so much success buying from Magic Millions - all of my top Group One horses were purchased from the Gold Coast,” Martin said.

“The sale is just so much fun each January - the atmosphere is fantastic and the horses are of great quality - I’m looking forward to the sale again in the New Year.

“Driefontein is a wonderful youngster and I can’t wait for her to run in the Magic Millions Classic in a couple of weeks.

“Her syndicate is made up of both new and existing clients - there is an owner who was in Theseo - there’s another one who’s overseas and they are from around the country.”

Promising colt Knight’s Tour (Reset - Hestia, by Machiavellian) became the 16^th individual stakes winner for Darley stallion Reset (Zabeel - Assertive Lass, by Zeditave) with his victory in Monday’s Group 2 Great Northern Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie.

Knight’s Tour had his third start in the Great Northern Guineas. The three-year-old settled just off the speed before fighting strongly to hold off the late charge of the previously unbeaten Ocean Park (Thorn Park - Sayyida, by Zabeel).

Cambridge Stud champion Zabeel appeared in the pedigrees of all three placegetters in the Great Northern Guineas after Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice - Grand Echezeaux, by Zabeel) finished third.

Knight’s Tour’s trainer Steven McKee said King’s Tour’s success proved the horse was a legitimate Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender but he would plot a path to keep the developing talent fresh for the staying classic in late January.

“For now I’ll just keep him at a mile, he’s a little bit new yet,” McKee told The Informant.

“He’d run 2400 (metres) today if I wanted him to but he can have a trip away and run in the Wellington Stakes. Other than that he can go around here as he needs to for the experience before the Derby.”

IDL Racing paid $NZ65,000 for Knight’s Tour at the 2010 NZB NZ Select Sale.

Meanwhile, Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) filly Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock - Akris, by Zabeel) continued on her winning way in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m).

Planet Rock won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at her previous start before proving too good for Testa Secret (Testa Rossa - Acacian Secret, by Silver Deputy) in the $NZ100,000 event.

“The (New Zealand) Oaks remains her mission but if she’s come through this she can back for the Royal Stakes,” said co-trainer Peter Williams.

“She’s actually put on weight since she came north, so that’s a good sign with what’s coming up.”

Friday evening’s Canterbury meeting in Sydney produced two smart Maiden winners. Fastnet Rock filly Sea Siren came with a big sprint to win the  Williams Premium Lager Hcp (1200m)  her second start while Darley homebred Kuhreihen, a son of Commands, overcame difficulties to score in the opening race of the night, the Deen Vat Series Handicap (1200m).

Sea Siren (3 f Fastnet Rock - Express A Smile, by Success Express) is a half-sister to Stakes winners Discorsi, Lady Dehere and Oratorio (now a successfiul sire in WA) and is raced by her breeder, Keith Biggs, Trained at Randwick by John O’Shea, Sea Siren was ridden by Glyn Schofield, who said, ”She’s a nice filly. She’s still a bit new in the head, it’s all a bit strange to her still so she’ll keep getting better as she matures.”

Kuhreihen (3 c Commands - Nostalgic, by Quest For Fame) looked no chance halfway up the straight but he was able to get clear and came late to just get up.

“I was under lock and key and had to get him to the outside to make his run but he was doing his best work late.” said jockey Hugh Bowman.

Kuhreihen’s dam is a half-sister to the Gr 1 winner Dracula and he has a future according to the stable. “Peter [Snowden] thinks he’s a nice horse, he’s definitely a Saturday horse.” said stable representative Brad Widdup.

Patinack Farm has its two-year-olds in flying form and the stable unveiled impressive barrier trial winners at Doomben on Tuesday.

Fastnet Rock filly Nechita, a $130,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales, came from behind to edge out boom colt Sizzling by a long head in an 810-metre trial.

The following trial saw Sookie, a daughter of Casino Prince, easily account for the Liam Birchley-trained Snipzu by 1-1/4 lengths.

Nechita ran the slightly faster time of the pair clocking 50.66 seconds, one hundredth of a second quicker than Sookie.

Patinack Farm Queensland stable foreman Brett Killion said that Nechita has made rapid improvement in recent weeks. ”She’s jumped out of the ground in the past two weeks. Before that she was just poking along,” Killion said.

“She’ll probably kick off against Snipzu in the Calaway Gal on Saturday week and then her prizemoney will dictate whether she needs to have another run before the Magic Millions. There wasn’t much between her and Sookie and both were very impressive.”

Sponsors Patinack Farm has 41 nominations for next year’s $1 million Gr 1 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) following Tuesday’s closure of first declarations, the most by any owner or trainer.

Darley has 31 hopefuls in the running to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Sepoy. Champion Victorian trainer Peter Moody has 32 entries with David Hayes the best of the rest with 27.

More than 500 two-year-olds are still entered for the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes, down 47 on last year but up the same number on 2010.

Fastnet Rock is the most heavily represented sire with 38 youngsters among the nominations followed by 1999 Blue Diamond winner Redoute’s Choice (27) and Encosta de Lago and Exceed And Excel (both 26).

The Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, 25 February will be the culmination of a three-race series that commences with the 1000m Blue Diamond Previews on January 26 and the 1100m Blue Diamond Preludes on February 11.

Blue Diamond second declarations, which cost $440, close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 10 January.

Coolmore stalion Fastnet Rock completed the New Zealand Guineas double when Planet Rock (3 f Fastnet Rock – Akris, by Zabeel) won the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The early favourite Anabandana (Anabaa) was a scratching on race morning due to the heavy track.

Planet Rock was settled in behind the leading group before coming with her run in the straight, proving too strong for  the pacemaker Abeautifulred (Handsome Ransom), prevailing by  a half-head victory with Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn) in third.

Rock ‘N’ Pop proved too good in the 2000 Guineas and now Planet Rock has added the fillies version to give Fastnet Rock a clear lead in the Sires’ Premiership. Planet Rock having defeated Rock ‘N’ Pop in the Canterbury Guineas Trial the only time the pair have met.

“We put a lot into this one,” said trainer Peter Williams. “These moments mean a lot. We turn up for work in rain and snow and we do it for these days.”

Planet Rock was bred by Bill Gleeson and sold for $290,000 at the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Wellfield Lodge.

Coolmore has reduced fees for 11 stallions in Ireland in 2012. Galileo’s fee remains listed as  ’private’ after a magnificent season with another former shuttle-sire Montjeu listed at €75,000 this year, and Fastnet Rock, now listed as ‘Private’ after standing at €30,000 last season.

The Epsom Derby Derby winner Pour Moi (Montjeu) will stand at €20,000 in his first season with Gr 1 winning miler Canford Cliffs at €17,500. There is no listing of So You Think on the roster with his sire High Chaparral to stand for €25,000, unchanged from 2011.

Coolmore 2012 fees (change from 2011 in brackets)

Alfred Nobel    €4,000 (down €1,000)

Aussie Rules     €5,000  (down €1,000)

Canford Cliffs    €17,500 (new)

Danehill Dancer  €60,000 (down €15,000)

Duke Of Marmalade   €20,000 (down €5,000)

Dylan Thomas   €12,500 (down €5,000)

Excellent Art    €10,000  (no change)

Fastnet Rock  Private (from €30,000)

Footstepsinthesand   €10,000  (no change)

Galileo    Private (no change)

High Chaparral  €25,000 (no change)

Holy Roman Emperor   €12,500 (up €2,500)

Hurricane Run   €12,500 (down €2,500)

Mastercraftsman   €15,000 (€2,500)

Montjeu   Private (from €75,000)

Peintre Celebre   €12,500 (down €2,500)

Pour Moi     €20,000 (new)

Rip Van Winkle   €17,500 (€2,500)

Rock Of Gibraltar    €17,500 (no change)

Starspangledbanner     €10,000 (down €5,000)

Strategic Prince     €6,000 (up €2,000)

Thewayyouare     €5,000 (down €1,000)

Yeats    €9,000  (no change)

Zoffany   €7,500 (new)

Kitchwin Hills Stud sire Dane Shadow (Danehill - Slight Chance, by Centaine) made a lightning start to Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting with a double in the first two races.

Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli produced Shady Favour (Dane Shadow - Favorite Kas, by Favorite Trick) to win the Blacktown Workers Maiden Plate (1000m). Local trainer Gary White completed Dane Shadow’s double when Diamond Springs (Dane Shadow - Caring Kind, by Marauding) proved too classy for her opposition in the Richmond Club Maiden Plate (1600m).

The dual successes took Dane Shadow’s win tally for the season to 25 with five of the stallion’s victories for the 2011/12 season coming on the Hawkesbury circuit.

Dane Shadow has recorded 15 of his season’s wins at tracks in New South Wales.

Meanwhile, Coolmore Stud stallion Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) scored a double of his own at the Hawkesbury meeting.

New Age Rocka (Fastnet Rock - Vreeland, by Lord Seymour) won the Brad Byrnes Memorial Handicap (1600m) before Breeze Up (Fastnet Rock - Hiavanna, by Mister C) won the Parramatta Leagues Club Handicap (1400m) for the Bart Cummings stable.

New Age Rocka is a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 Flight Stakes winner Danglissa (Danzero - Vreeland, by Lord Seymour), who is the grand-dam of the stakes-winning filly Euryale (Lonhro - Meduesa, by Fusaichi Pegasus).

Rock ‘N’ Pop (3 c Fastnet Rock – Popsy, by Sir Tristram) scored an impressive win in Saturday’s Gr 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas over 1600m at Riccarton. Rock ‘N’ Pop burst through a gap into the straight and then went on to defeat to beat the filly Anabandana (Anabaa) with Dollario (Captain Rio) in third .

Sold for $1 million at the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Rock ‘N’ Pop races in the familiar orange and blue silks of Te Akau Stables.

“He had fresh legs for today,” trainer Jason Bridgman said on Trackside. “He’s a progressive horse and these Fastnet Rock horses are just on fire. He’s always had that turn of foot in the tank, but it was difficult to predict. I knew it was in there but to say it was going to come out on Guineas Day.”

“He had the perfect run from gate one and we’d learned enough from his previous three runs to know that he had to be held up. The way he relaxes now, there’s no reason why we can’t consider a Derby. He deserves to be freshened as he laid it all down today and he’s shown a phenomenal turn of foot.”

From the 1993 New Zealand Derby winner Popsy (Sir Tristram), Rock ‘N’ Pop now boasts a record of two wins and two seconds from four starts for stakes of $NZ252,900

Coolmore Stud sires will take a handy lead into the final day of Flemington’s famous four-day carnival at Saturday’s Emirates Stakes meeting.

Coolmore’s band of stallions has won five of the 28 races contested to date of the first three days of the Flemington carnival. The Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) filly Mosheen (Fastnet Rock - Sumehra, by Stravinsky) provided the stud’s highlight of the carnival to date with her win in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m).

Mosheen posted a nine-length success in the $1 million event. The ease of her win left the connections of Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock - Regard, by Zabeel) wondering what might have been after the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) had trounced Mosheen at their previous meetings.

Atlantic Jewel missed the VRC Oaks with a pulled hamstring.

Darley sires have won three races over the carnival. The outstanding Elusive Quality colt Sepoy (Elusive Quality - Watchful, by Danehill) won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes while Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) produced his first two-year-old winner of the season when Applegate (Exceed And Excel - Klamath Falls, by Storm Cat).

Arrowfield’s gun sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill - Shantha’s Choice, by Canny Lad) has carried the NSW operation during the Flemington carnival with two successes. Sister Madly (Redoute’s Choice - Jade Tiara, by Bureaucracy) claimed the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) while Galah (Redoute’s Choice - Rinky Dink, by Distorted Humor) won the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on the opening day of the four-day festival.

Mosheen romped away with the $1 million Crown Oaks (Gr 1) at Flemington on Tursday. The Robert Smerdon trained filly led all the way and was never challenged, clearing right away at the finish to register a brilliant victory. Dowager Queen (Savabeel) ran on for second ahead of Roma Gioconda (Magic Albert) but in reality it was daylight second as Mosheen streaked away in the straight.

Mosheen (3 f Fastnet Rock - Sumehra, by Stravinsky) was going to be spelled after her unplaced effort in the Myer Classic last Saturday but when the unbeaten Atlantic Jewel was injured and out of the race, Smerdon revised his plans.

“Going through the Myer Classic was an option so it was not like we were giving up the dream of the Oaks, but it was still an option, and sometimes a mile race leading into the 2500m is an option too, but we were never going to go there against the good filly. So on Sunday morning our filly was really good and it came through that the other filly was not running so it was full steam ahead.

“Danny said the other day that if he could put her to sleep for 2000m then they could not beat her and that is what he was able to do. She relaxed for him and she did not go too hard to kick off, and once it got to the corner and she had that easy run, those fillies could not reach her,” he said.

Nikolic said the filly had worked well at the start of the week and he was confident of winning the race after they reached the 600 metres.
”I went down and worked on Melbourne Cup morning, she had the tongue-tie on and the winkers and she just relaxed beautifully. When I got to the 600 metres I said to myself that she’d have had to break down to get beaten because she was just cantering, she was breathing good and I know she can reel off better sectionals than any of those fillies.”

A $250,000 Inglis Australian Yearling purchase, Moseen is raced by PS and Miss SE Sly, PS Kelly, Miss BL Sly, JH Kreuzer, Ms JM McCaughey, BA Wilson, BS Stanley and TA Corstens she has now earned $1,541,200.