A Fastnet Rock 1-2 at Bendigo

Mark Smith - Wednesday September 2

There were mixed emotions for the Chittick family of Waikato Stud following the running of a competitive class 1 over 1400m at Bendigo on Wednesday as their colourbearer Early Morning Rise had to play second fiddle to the promising Irish Playboy, a son of the Waikato Stud-bred dual Group 1 winning Savabeel mare Scarlett Lady,

A 1-2 for Fastnet Rock as Irish Playboy gets the better of Early Morning Rise (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

In a race that featured three 3yos that had won their only start, both the winner and runner-up are by the champion Fastnet Rock.

The Danny O’Brien-trained mare Early Morning Rise had been on her own for a long way in the straight before Michael Poy found a seam on the Henry Dwyer-trained gelding Irish Playboy who shuffled back to near last on the turn after being cluttered up on the rail, before powering home to win by a long-neck.

The Fighting Sun gelding Inspired Sun was doing his best work at the finish to be a further one and a half lengths back in third.

It was the second win on the trot for Irish Playboy who had opened his winning account at Swan Hill after finishing second in two of his previous three starts.

Advertisement

Bred by Max Whitby and Neil Werrett, Irish Playboy was a $300,000 purchase by Henry Dwyer Racing / Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) out of the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Irish Playboy was a $300,000 Inglis Easter Yearling

He is the second winner from three to race out of the top-class Scarlett Lady (Savabeel) who was trained by Graeme Rogerson to win the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm and Group 1 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie and a further four stakes races.

Scarlett Lady has an unraced 3to Snitzel filly named Tickle Me Scarlett in the Kris Lees stable and a 2yo Snitzel colt named Enjolras who is in the stable of Brad Widdup.

After missing to Snitzel in 2018, Scarlett Lady was one of 149 mares to visit triple Crown hero Justify (USA) at his first season at Coolmore in 2019.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Big Screen Company Hcp-C1 1400m

Bendigo Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.57
1
Irish Playboy
- 4g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Michael Poy 59
2
0.4
Early Morning Rise
- 4m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Kay's Awake (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 59
3
1.9
Inspired Sun
- 4g Fighting Sun (AUS) x Cape Moss (AUS) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: V L Malady Rdr: D W Stackhouse 60.5
4
2.6
Blondeau
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Bit Of Cheek (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: D Oliver 60.5
5
3.6
Epic Ranger
- 3g Choisir (AUS) x Northwest (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: J Bowditch 59
6
5.6
Maccabee
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Apocrypha (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: L Currie 59
7
7.4
Stradari
- 4g Strategic Maneuver (AUS) x Ladari (AUS) (Ladoni (GB))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: Jye McNeil 61.5
8
10.6
Anirishman
- 4h Anacheeva (AUS) x Miss Ireland (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 61.5
More Reading...
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.