Irish Bred Fastnet Rock Wins G3 Technology Stakes

Media Release - Saturday November 28

It took every metre of the Ellerslie home straight for consistent galloper Gino Severini to finally gain the upper hand over his rivals as the Fastnet Rock gelding captured his first stakes victory in the Group III Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m).

Michael McNab gest the best out of Gino Severini  Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained seven-year-old had finished in the minor placings in each of his three starts in this campaign and that looked likely again on Saturday as he spotted pacemaker The Mitigator a two-length margin with just 150m to run in the Group Three contest.

Rider Michael McNab asked Gino Severini for one last effort and he surged strongly to get up and beat The Mitigator by a short head with Sultan Of Swing battling on strongly for third just ahead of Demonetization.

Cooksley was delighted to see his charge get the win on what is proving to be his favourite track, having now won or been placed in eight of his 12 starts at the venue.

“He always tries really hard and is normally thereabouts,” Cooksley said.

“I think he can go on most tracks and over most distances but he does seem to like it at Ellerslie.

“It was a good win as the runner-up can be a very hard horse to get past.”

While all of his wins have come at either 1400m or 1600m, Cooksley believes a rise in distance won’t hold any fears for the former European and Hong Kong galloper.

Advertisement

“I think he can go over most distances as he relaxes well in his races,” he said.

“He went a super race for fourth in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) earlier this year so 2000m won’t be a problem for him.

“Michael said he was very relaxed today which is what you want in those big races.

“He goes well at Ellerslie so we might have a look at the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) on Boxing Day although there is also the Rich Hill Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) on New Year’s day, so there are plenty of options for him.”

Gino Severini commenced his career in Ireland where he won one of his eight races before being exported to Hong Kong where he performed below expectations in three starts there.

Sent to New Zealand in late 2018 he has now won five times while also being placed on seven occasions for career prizemoney of $209,000.

Irish bred Gino Severini is a half-brother to Group I winner Millisle, the Champion 2YO European Filly of 2019, and stakes-winner Ithoughtitwasover being one of nine winners from terrific producer Green Castle.

Gino Severini is the 163rd stakes-winner worldwide for Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock.

The victory completed a stellar day for McNab who won both of the Ellerslie features having been successful aboard impressive three-year-old Tellall in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) just one race earlier. –NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Eagle Technology Stakes Gr3 1600m

Ellerslie Track: Good(3) Time: 1:34.75
1
Gino Severini
- 7g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Green Castle (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
Fastnet Rock
2
0.2
The Mitigator
- 6g Master Of Design (AUS) x Charming Ruby (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: P N McKay Rdr: T N Harris 58
3
1.7
Sultan Of Swing
- 8g Bachelor Duke (USA) x Queen Cha Cha (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: T Yanagida 55
4
2.0
Demonetization
- 6g All Too Hard (AUS) x Midnight Special (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: L G Innes 55
5
2.2
Vadavar
- 6h Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Vadapolina (FR) (Trempolino (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: M Cameron 55
6
4.5
Aligns With Me
- 6g Align (AUS) x Champagne Lady (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: K W Hawtin Rdr: S R Weatherley 55
7
4.7
Beauden
- 6g Bullbars (AUS) x Belle Femme (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 55.5
8
5.7
Charles Road
- 7g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Giant Mystique (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: C J Grylls 55
9
6.3
Tiptronic
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Tiptoes (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: D S Johnson 58
10
12.6
Redcayenne
- 7g Bullbars (AUS) x Sunday Whisper (AUS) (Sunday Silence (USA))
Tnr: A J Morley Rdr: A C Goindasamy 55
More Reading...
Future Bright for Danica Guy
Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong, while the stable are also excited about a first starter this weekend by Justify (USA).
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.