Not ready to become a mum after missing to I Am Invincible last spring, the Fastnet Rock mare Passive Aggressive returned to the track to defend her title in Saturday’s Group II Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.
Last year, Passive Aggressive lowered the colours of Eduardo and Giga Kick, and Jordan Childs was back on board the Grahame Begg mare to defeat Zapateo (Brazen Beau) by three-quarters of a length with Aft Cabin (Astern) back in third.
The 5-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock advances her record to six wins from nine starts with earnings of $798,725.
The favourite Private Eye went back to last from his wide draw and despite making up plenty of ground, he has too much to do and beat one home.
“Since day one she’s always been a class horse,” stable representative Jack Lake said.
“It was disappointing when she had to be retired. When she couldn’t get in foal and she came back into work, she’s just been terrific. After having almost a year off we probably thought she could have been very vulnerable late, but she was very gallant to the line. So it was very impressive.
“She’s a bit of a cranky mare at times, so the fitter she gets, the more wound up she gets and becomes more of a typical mare. But we’re just rapt to have her back, and I don’t think she could have been any more impressive there.”
Jordan Childs said it was a different scenario from last year.
It’s a bit different; we went a bit conservative today,” he said.
“It wasn’t originally the plan, but she didn’t begin well, so I went to Plan B and took her nice and quiet.
“When I was travelling into the straight, she gave me an unreal feel. Once I pressed that button, she was just too good for them.”
Bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock on behalf of Jonathon Munz 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 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.
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.
