Toughest 2YO?

Tara Madgwick - Sunday April 19

Much has been made of the toughness and iron constitution of Away Game, this season’s highest stake earning two year-old, but there is another who could well give her a run for her money in the toughness stakes.

He’s Fastnet Rock colt Glenfiddich, who made $1.4million glamour colt King’s Legacy fight like a tiger for his second Group I win on Saturday.

Punters may have thought King’s Legacy would steam straight past Glenfiddich, but the Robbie Griffiths trained colt would not lie down after leading all the way.



He was coming again on the line for Tommy Berry and failed by only half a neck to claim a Group I win.

It’s been a long and busy season for Glenfiddich, who made his debut with a fifth placing in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate on November 7.

He’s been in work constantly since then racking up nine starts on six different tracks in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales with numerous good efforts in some tough races as well as a win in the $125,000 Quayclean Sires at Mornington.

Glenfiddich wins the $125,000 Quayclean Sires at Mornington - image Racing Photos

A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Edinburgh Park draft for Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford T'bred, he runs for a big syndicate headed by his breeder Ian Smith and has conveniently won back his purchase price earning $217,000 and change.

Glenfiddich is the second winner from Nothin But a Dream (USA), a grand-daughter of US stakes-winner Adarling, who has achieved a lot of success in Australia through another grand-daughter in Mica’s Pride, the dam of Group I stars Criterion and Comin’ Through.

The class Glenfiddich showed on Saturday when stepped up to a mile on a good track bodes well for next season and a further insight into his future might be gained from revisiting the racing career of his sire Fastnet Rock.

Fastnet Rock is the sire of Glenfiddich

The now legendary sire started seven times at two and famously never won a race although was competitive with the best and blossomed at three to become the best three year-old sprinting colt in the land.

It’s fairly safe to say the best is still ahead for Glenfiddich, whose record of nine starts is one more than any other two year-old in Australia so far this season.


 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.