Group I placed last season at two, exciting Fastnet Rock colt Glenfiddich claimed his first Black Type victory at Moonee Valley on Friday night when scoring a cavalier win in the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m).
Glenfiddich wins the G2 Stutt Stakes - image Natasha Morello / Racing Photos
Transferred to Peter Moody at the end of last season, Glenfiddich resumed from a spell in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes over 1400m at WFA and acquitted himself well to finish a close third to Behemoth.
Given the strength of that form, he was sent out favourite on Friday night and under a confident ride from Luke Nolen controlled the race and powered clear to win by two lengths in a dominant display.
Peter Moody was full of confidence when Glenfiddich returned to scale.
“He’s a very exciting colt. After we win the Guineas (Caulfield) we might come back here for the Cox Plate,” said an effervescent Moody.
“The only thing I’d be scared of is wet weather as he has too good an action for soft ground.
“As soon as he walked into the stable I knew he was quality. He’s the right horse for the Guineas.”
A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Edinburgh Park draft for Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford T'bred, Glenfiddich runs for a big syndicate headed by his breeder Ian Smith.
Glenfiddich as a yearling
He has the overall record of two wins and four placings from 11 starts earning over $400,000 with the promise of a lot more to come.
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.
Nothin But a Dream has foaled this spring producing a filly by Exceed and Excel.
Glenfiddich is the 160th stakes-winner for Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock who stands this spring at a fee of $165,000.
