Fastnet Rock Mare has One of North America's Most Exciting Two Year Olds

Mark Smith - Sunday October 3

Spendthrift Farm dipped its toe in the water in Australia at the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with the purchase of a colt and two fillies.

The two fillies, by Fastnet Rock, made their mark on the track before being exported to Spendthrift's base in Kentucky.

Cana was a $650,000 purchase from the Highgrove Stud draft. She earned $203,435 of that back on the track with three wins and three places from 14 starts, including a third in the Group III Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield.

Ameristralia was a $400,000 purchase out of the Kia Ora Stud draft.

Ameristralia carries the Spendthrift colours to victory at Caulfield (image Racing Photos)

She won four, placed in six of her 12 starts, and bowed out of racing with a third behind Prussian Vixen and Silent Sedition in the Group III Bellmaine Stakes at Caulfield.

At Santa Anita on Friday, Ameristralia's 2yo daughter Ain't Easy honoured Spendthrift Farm's champion stallion Into Mischief with his 100th stakes-winner when she blew away the field by upwards of four and three-quarter lengths in the Grade II Chandelier Stakes.

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She achieved the feat with a front shoe hanging off.

It was the second win from as many starts for Ain't Easy, earning her a fees-paid berth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on November 5.

At her career debut at Del Mar on August 21, Ain't Easy won a five and a half furlong sprint by five and a quarter lengths.

"She acted very professional, sitting behind. She came up inside, which you like to see with a young horse," winning trainer Phil D'Amato said.

A $400,000 Keeneland September purchase, Ain't Easy is the first winner for Ameristralia whose stakes-winning dam, Heart Ashley (Lion Heart), was bought for $500,000 by James Bester on behalf of Kia Ora Stud at the 2010 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

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