Hero's Foals Are Rocking It!

Media Release - Friday November 17
Lauriston Park's exciting young stallion Rock Hero continue to impress with breeders keen to send their mares back to the well credentialled son of champion stallion Fastnet Rock on the strength of his foals.

"We think she is gorgeous," said breeder Bob Zappone of his filly out of the Redoute's Choice mare Echo Princess whilst Scott Wickham was full of praise for his filly of first time mum Mrs The King – "we are so excited, we can't wait to breed to Rock Hero again. He is producing such beautiful natured foals and everyone who sees our filly is overwhelmed - I cannot recommend this young stallion more, he is going to be an absolute superstar!"

"We are ever so grateful to have the opportunity to breed to such a magnificent stallion with such purple bloodlines."

Rock Hero colt from Smash HitFellow owner Loue Nolen agreed. "Thank you for our wonderful filly. She is a big beautiful foal, we are so very happy with the result. We will be back next year."

Just as excited is Lauriston's Chris Bakker who was happy from the moment the first progeny of Rock Hero appeared - "they are all strong, bold foals with great temperaments. They have scope, size and athleticism."

"I have seen most of them and there isn't one I would say will not make a racehorse."

LP Stallion's Julie Nairn agreed; "the Rock Hero foals have both strength and quality and we are so looking forward to seeing them on the track."

A brilliant winner of the Listed Dulcify Quality, Rock Hero is one of 124 stakes winners for Fastnet Rock who is proving his worth as a sire of sires with eight of his sons - including Foxwedge (sire of Group One winner Foxplay), Stryker (Rangipo),Hinchinbrook (Press Statement) and the promising young horses Your Song and Smart Missile.

Currently Australia's fourth leading sire, Fastnet Rock enjoyed a terrific spring carnival with the likes of Merchant Navy (Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Gr.3 McNeill Stakes), Shoals (Gr.1 Myer Classic), Deploy (Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes), Formality (Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes, Gr.2 Silver Shadow Stakes, Gr.2 Furious Stakes), Catchy (Gr.2 Danehill Stakes), Comin' Through (Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap), Fast 'N' Rocking (Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes) and Missrock (Listed Carlyon Stakes) proving their worth at the highest level.

He is also in flying form in the northern hemisphere with his daughter Laganore a recent Group One winner whilst Star Rock, Casterton and One Master have also been successful at stakes level in the last month or so.

Rock HeroMeanwhile Fastnet Rock's dam sire, the legendary Galileo, continues to make his mark with his son Johannes Vermeer placed in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups whilst his progeny have won no less than 20 stakes races since the start of September.

Four of the recently announced Cartier awards went to Galileos and the Fastnet Rock/Galileo cross continues to excel with Star Rock a UK Listed winner last week.

Just short of 80% of the 43 horses bred on this cross are winners with 14 - a simply astounding 32.5% - being stakes winners!

Galileo's influence as a broodmare sire (87 stakes winners and counting) was also felt locally during the spring carnival with his daughters producing the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes winner Luvuluva and the Listed Cranbourne Cup winning, Gr.1 W.S Cox Plate placegetter Folkswood.

Being a descendant of the legendary Mumtaz Mahal from the same branch of this prolific family as the legendary Nasrullah, Rock Hero is out the multiple Group winning daughter Gallant Tess who produced another impressive winner just recently.

The five times Group One placed mare has a Classic candidate in the shape of All Too Soon who, like Rock Hero, is trained by David Payne.

"I like All Too Soon a lot," he said of the All Too Hard filly who impressed saluting at Randwick over 1800m.

"She looks like she wants further, the longer that race went on the stronger she got. She has an exciting future, we will give her a month off and have a look at the ATC Oaks in the autumn."

David Payne is still celebrating his VRC Derby victory with Ace High who races in the same orange, black and white colours of Rock Hero's owner and breeder John Cordina.

"If your mare is not in foal give us a ring," Chris Bakker said, noting that Rock Hero's exceptional fertility is a big tick for the owner/breeder.

For further information on Rock Hero contact Lauriston Park's Chris and Kathie Bakker (0427 903 353) or LP Stallion's Julie Nairn (0402 901 910)


Advertisment
More Reading...
Carlyon Stakes To Baraqiel – Second SW For Snitzel
Successful in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) last time in, Sniztel’s 7yo son Baraqiel continued his outstanding record at the Moonee Valley circuit, resuming to win the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) first up, highlighting potential Group 1 spring aims.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).
Sterling Express Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Sterling Express stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.
First Winner for Rock Hero
No one has to tell Chris Bakker that Rock Hero will have to do it the hard way if the stallion is to become successful in the breeding industry.
Third Black Type Win For Snitzel’s Lazzura
A member of the Waller team to hold a dual acceptance leading into Saturday’s Randwick meeting, it was the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) where 4yo Snitzel mare Lazzura came out on top, recording her third black type victory.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Autumn Glow
Resuming off the back of two solid barrier trials efforts, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stepped up to open company for the first time, with the $1.8m yearling purchase extending her unbeaten run to five with victory in the Group 3 ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wuddzz Caps Fine 24 Hours For Dwyer
Handy stayer Wuddzz came with a well-timed run under Tim Clark to land the Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m) at Randwick.
Jenni Lets Loose At The Valley
Smart staying mare Jennivamoose recorded her third victory at The Valley when winning the Simpson Construction Handicap (2500m) in similar fashion to her previous victory at the venue.