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...
St Mark’s Basilica Colt Wins MM Tasmania 2YO Classic by Eight!
Tasmanian 2YO sensation Aristopolos ran as a short priced favourite in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in Hobart on Friday and the son of 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) kept his unbeaten record intact with scintillating victory.
Almanzor Sprinter on Track for More Riches
Local trainer David Greene can’t wait to head to Te Rapa on Saturday where he will be chasing $1.125 million in prizemoney with a trio of runners.
People at Classic - Feeling The Vibe
Given the numbers of people and the numbers of inspections it’s fair to say there’s a very good vibe about the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Maree McEwan was out and about talking to more of the players on Friday.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Canterbury
Four heats at Canterbury on Friday were won by juveniles and three were unraced youngsters including a $1million Snitzel colt, while G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki was also sent around following her midfield finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.
Tarzino Mare Chasing G1
Tomodachi’s connections are banking on a target closer to home to bring out the best in the gifted mare on Saturday.
Nigella Lane Wins Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders
Cambridge mare Nigella Lane was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
Breeding to Win - 2026 Inglis Millennium
The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick this Saturday is for 2YO's that have come via the Inglis Sales and naturally the big stables have deployed some of their best juvenile firepower in pursuit of this big pot of cash.
Inglis Millennium - Bubbles Go Up and Bubbles Come Down
Following two year old racing is a bit like watching little kids blowing bubbles at a birthday party!  A perfectly formed sphere appears, and oooh look! it's going higher than the others (squeals of excitement) and then oh -  it hit the clothesline.
Sires With Winners - Friday February 6
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Big Sky Three-Quarter Sister Highlights MM Online Sale
A three-quarter sister to the unbeaten juvenile Big Sky, one of the serious players for this month's $2 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes, headlines the Magic Millions Digital Sale (6-11 February), which is now open for bidding.