Daughter of Stakes-Placed Fastnet Rock Mare in Demand at Keeneland

Mark Smith - Monday September 21

An Into Mischief filly out of the Group III-placed Fastnet Rock mare Ameristralia was the third highest price lot of Session Five of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when knocked down to Joey Platts for $US400,000.

Ameristralia was herself purchased for $400,000 by Spendthrift Australia out of the Kia Ora draft at the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

She was a consistent mare with four wins and six placings from 12 starts including a third behind Prussian Blixen and Silent Sedition in the Group III Bellmaine Stakes at Caulfield. That brought the curtain down on her career, after which she was exported to America.

Katsumi Yoshida purchased a brother to Ameristralia at the 2016 Easter Yearling sale for $250,000. He races in Japan as Fiano Romano and is a six-time winner including the Group III lord Derby Challenge Trophy at Nakayama.

Advertisement

Ameristralia’s half-brother Bigger Than Thorn (Snitzel) has won his last two starts at Kembla Grange for trainer Brad Widdup and another half-brother Morgenstern made one start at the back end of last season finishing third in a 2yo maiden at the Gold Coast.

The dam of Ameristralia, the dual Grade III winner Heart Ashley (USA) (Lion Heart) is a half-sister to young Ashford Stud stallion Cupid, a Grade 1 winning son of Tapit.  

Advertisment
More Reading...
Barneswood Farm Trans Tasman Strike
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm.
El Vencedor Crowned NZ Horse of the Year
Rich Hill Stud’s standing as a centre of thoroughbred excellence has been further emphasised with El Vencedor named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
G1 Manikato Next for Alabama Lass
New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.
$1.7million Flightline Colt Sets Pace at Keeneland September Day 1
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale is underway and as expected yearlings from the first crop of US Horse of the Year Flightline are lighting up the sale ring, while a colt by Widden Stud shuttler Cogburn’s sire Not This Time sold for $1.6million.
Tara Talks Racing – This Week We Talk to Bennett Racing
In the wash up of last Saturday’s great day of spring racing there was no winner that meant more to his connections than Group I MVRC Moir Stakes victory Baraqiel, so our obvious guest this week had to be Nathan Bennett.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Cracks $1million in Prizemoney
Karaka graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) became a millionaire and a dual Group One winner with a stunning last-to-first performance in the $400,000 Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 8
Here is the full list of 18 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock was a crowd pleaser when paraded as a living legend at the Coolmore stallion parade last month, but sadly this spring was to be his last. 
Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G3 in South Korea
Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea.
Impressive First Foals for Don Corleone
The first son of outstanding sire Extreme Choice to find his way to Queensland, Group I performer Don Corleone proved very popular with breeders last spring covering 133 mares at Eureka Stud and his first foals are exactly what you might hope for.