Champion sire Fastnet Rock has had a lot of outstanding gallopers ,but Eleven Eleven has now become one of his highest stakes earners after scoring back-to-back Magic Millions wins on the Gold Coast with a determined performance in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Fair Magic Millions Cup (1400m).
Eleven Eleven gives everything he's got for Nash Rawiller - image Grant Courtney.
Greg Hickman’s pin-up galloper jumped well from barrier five, settled handy to the speed and burst a length clear when jockey Nash Rawiller took an inside run at the top of the straight.
The son of Fastnet Rock, who was purchased by Hickman for $230,000 at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, staved off late challenges from wildcard runner Soxagon and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Discharged to claim victory by a head.
It came 12 months after he ran second to Alligator Blood in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, after which he was elevated to first place when that horse returned a positive swab to a banned substance.
“What they’ve done with this carnival is amazing, with the lead-up to it last week gives you a taste of what is to come and everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy the week and support racing,” said winning rider Rawiller said.
“He’s a lovely horse and he’s just won a million-dollar race, it’s brilliant.
“Greg’s done a great job with him, it’s a shame he can’t be here but he’ll be rapt.
“He can keep coming back for the next two or three years and pinching this great money.”
Saturday's win, which was the seventh of the four-year-old's career, took Eleven Eleven's earnings beyond $2.1 million.
Eleven Eleven as a yearling.
Bred and sold by Ian Smith of Edinburgh Park, Eleven Eleven is a full brother to stakes-placed War Memorial and three-quarter brother-in-blood to Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes winner Glenfiddich being from well bred import Smokin Alice(USA)..
Edinburgh Park sold an Exceed and Excel colt from Smokin Alice at Magic Millions 2020 for $1million that has been named Ovoid and placed at his first barrier trial in Sydney on December 8 for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable.
Smokin Alice has no yearling for the 2021 sale, but did produce a filly by Trapeze Artist in October.
The progeny of Fastnet Rock have again proved popular at the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale with 17 lots being offered through the ring so far including Lot 163, a colt from Zoustar’s sister Ciarlet out of Coolmore Stud’s draft that was sold to David Ellis and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $825,000 and Lot 245, a filly from Dreams and Wishes offered by Strawberry Hill Stud that was sold to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $800,000.
