Fastnet Mare Rises to G2 Challenge

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 4

Exciting Fastnet Rock mare Passive Aggressive produced a career best performance at Randwick on Saturday to down glamour sprinters Eduardo and Giga Kick in the Group II ATC Challenge Stakes (1000m).

Passive Aggressive noses out a gallant Eduardo - image Steve Hart

Prepared by Grahame Begg, Passive Aggressive won her first four starts in a row last year culminating in a Listed victory at Flemington before finishing fourth in the Group III MRC Cockram Stakes.

Spelled immediately after, Passive Aggressive was racing for the first time this year in the WFA sprint and nosed out a gallant Eduardo to win by a whisker with Jordan Childs in the saddle. Everest hero Giga Kick was a late closing third.

"I thought she won on the line, but I know coming to Randwick, rail out 6m, outside horses normally get the bob in. Great effort because she hasn't run for six months. She's a bloody good filly,” Grahame Begg said before going to explain the decision to come to Sydney.

"She loves having a bit of bite in the ground. That was the idea why we missed the Melbourne autumn to come up here and get that softer ground,” he said.

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"She's a very understated mare. It's only her sixth start in a race to go to a Group 2 weight for age against very good accomplished horses. Great effort.”

Passive Aggressive earns a pat from Jordan Childs - image Steve Hart

Passive Aggressive has the great record of five wins from six starts with prizemoney just shy of $500,000 and Group I races will be the target going forward.

“There's a couple of races. There's obviously the Galaxy (G1), hopefully the T J Smith (G1)maybe in a month's time so we'll work it out from here. But we'll look after the horse and get her home and let the dust settle and make a plan,” Begg added.

Bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at Inglis Easter for $500,000, Passive Aggressive was bred and sold by Cressfield and is a full sister to Group III winning and multiple Group I placed sprinter Missrock, who won over $1.3million.

Passive Aggressive was bred and sold by Cressfield.

Passive Aggressive is the final foal from Group III winning Strategic mare Miss Judgement, who was retired from stud duties in 2021 and is a sibling to Group I winner Mrs Onassis and Group III winners Fifth Avenue Lady and Aussies Love Sport.

The value of this prolific Black Type female family was highlighted when Missrock was offered off the track at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019 where she fetched $2.3million to the bid of John and Jake Warren and was exported to the UK.

Missrock made $500,000 as a yearling in 2015, the same price paid for Passive Aggressive, and both fillies have proven to be great value for money!

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Race Result - Hyland Colours Challenge Stks Gr2 1000m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 0:57.19
1
Passive Aggressive
- 4m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Miss Judgement (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 56.5
Fastnet Rock
2
0.1
Eduardo
- 9g Host (CHI) x Blushing (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
3
1.4
Giga Kick
- 3g Scissor Kick (AUS) x Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: Craig Williams 56
4
1.6
Remarque
- 4g Snitzel (AUS) x Response (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Avdulla 58.5
5
2.6
The Bopper
- 5g Nicconi (AUS) x Chicago (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Z Purton 58.5
6
2.8
Key Largo
- 6g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Petty Cury (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Bryce Heys Rdr: Tyler Schiller 58.5
7
4.1
Sacred Satono
- 3c Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Belle Joie (NZ) (Mellifont (USA))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: C Schofield 56
8
4.6
Paulele
- 4h Dawn Approach (IRE) x Chatoyant (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
9
5.7
Shelby Sixtysix
- 6g Toronado (IRE) x Storm Kite (AUS) (Honours List (IRE))
Tnr: D A Williams Rdr: R Dolan 58.5
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