Fastnet Filly Wins Blue Sapphire

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday October 18
The $350,000 Group III MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield on Wednesday drew a strong field of three year-old sprinters with powerhouse Fastnet Rock filly Formality proving too good for Snitzel colt Jukebox.



Prepared by the Hayes / Dabernig training partnership, Formality was a brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes and Furious Stakes in Sydney at her first two runs back from a spell before an unplaced effort in the Group I ATC Golden Rose.

Winning rider Kerrin McEvoy blamed himself for her defeat in the Golden Rose, but put things right for this assignment.

Formality - images Grant CourtneyShe travelled forward to sit in second place and zoomed to the line, holding off a challenge from Jukebox to win the 1200 metre sprint by a long neck.

"I didn't give her a great ride in the Golden Rose … and she is probably just a sprinting filly," McEvoy said.

"She was back in trip here and she is a very strong girl.

"Crown Witness just rolled along and I was happy, it was just a matter of pressing the button and we did that at the 300m and it was game over.

"She had a lovely run and she showed a good turn of foot they couldn't get near her."

Formality was a modest $120,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft by Inglis as agent and runs for Coolmore and partners for whom she has won five of nine starts earning nearly $800,000 in prizemoney.

She will take on the colts again in next month's Group I VRC Coolmore Stud at Flemington on Derby Day.

Bred by Dr K Tan and foaled and raised at Coolmore, Formality is the best of four winners from four foals to race from 2009 Singapore Horse of the Year, Jolie's Shinju (Jpn), a daughter of the Halo sire Jolie's Halo.

A two year-old full brother to Formality will be offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale as Lot 174 and he's going to be popular after breezing earlier this week in 10.43 seconds.

Jolie's Shinju has foaled this spring producing a filly by Choisir.

Fastnet Rock also had an impressive maiden winner at Canterbury for the Chris Waller stable with Unforgotten winning in the style of a filly headed for stakes company - read about here here.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Hellbent Double at Sha Tin
Hellbent is enjoying a fabulous spring with seasonal progeny earnings topping $7million and 45 Australian winners including stakes-winners Magic Time, Savvy Hallie and Boston Rocks, plus million dollar race winners Vivy Air and Revengeance with his good form extending to Hong Kong where he sired a double on Sunday with a pair of lightly raced 4YO’s on the up.
J-Mac Magic Puts Galaxy Patch in Winning Mood
Larneuk Stud in Victoria is home to value sire Wandjina, whose talented son Galaxy Patch staked his claim for glory on Hong Kong International Day next month when scoring a thrilling win for James McDonald in the Group II BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 23
Here is the full list of 70 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Remembering JJ
A service, celebrating the life of industry icon, John Jeffs, will be conducted at Sydney’s Rosehill Racecourse on Monday 1 December at 2pm, but for those unable to attend, there is also a livestream available : www.funeralvideo.com.au/JohnJeffs
Jenny Graham Couldn't Be Happier with Captivant!
Captivant’s first crop son Vantorix made an immediate impact at Taree yesterday, producing a professional and dominant performance to win the National Thoroughbred Week Maiden Plate (1005m) by two and a half lengths on debut.
Half-Brother to New SW De Armas for 2026 Karaka Summer
NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale was credited with another new stakes-winning graduate when unbeaten two-year-old De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) took out the $110,000 Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Elsdon Park Stakes Double
Elsdon Park was in the thick of the black-type action at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, with a winning double for the Matamata nursery.
HK Debut Winner for Zousain
Zousain featured at the big Sha Tin meeting on Sunday with his unraced four year-old Mabubu kicked off the card with a debut victory in race one.
HK Superstars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior Ready to Rock
The stage is set for Hong Kong International Day next month with Hong Kong superstars Ka Ying Rising (NZ) and Romantic Warrior (IRE) winning their respective lead up races at Sha Tin on Sunday in dazzling fashion.
First Winner for Captivant
Kia Ora Stud’s promising young sire Captivant is off the mark with his first winner after Vantorix made a winning debut at Taree on Sunday beating older horses.