Zoffany Import Fawkner Park in a Class of his Own in Albury Cup

Mark Smith - Friday March 22

Winless in six starts since stringing four on the bounce last winter, Fawkner Park (IRL) gave his opponents a start and a beating in Friday’s $200,000 Listed Commercial Club Albury - Albury Gold Cup (2000m).

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Settled near the tail of the field by Tyler Schiller, the Annabel Neasham-trained son of Zoffany (IRE) came with a barnstorming finish to defeat his stablemate Red Lion (Jakkalberry) by three and a quarter lengths with Danish Fortune (Magnus) back in third.

A €46,000 Goffs Orby purchase for Joseph O’Brien, Fawkner Park (IRL) made three starts in Ireland, the last of which was a six and a half length win over the Galileo x Atlantic Jewel colt Fleet Commander in a 10-furlong maiden win at Dundalk.

Consigned to the 2022 Autumn Horses In Training Sale, where Blandford Bloodstock / Bennett / Annabel Neasham Racing had the final say at 120,000gns.

Fawkner Park a 120,000gns Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training purchase

The Bennett Racing colour-bearer made that look money well spent with his first four starts in his adopted homeland resulting in wins at Kembla Grange, Doomben, and two at Rosehill.

With his stakes breakthrough, Fawkner Park (IRL) advances his record to six wins a second and third from 14 starts with earnings of $388,002.

Fawkner Park (IRL) is a half-brother to Saracen Knight (IRE) (Camelot), who enjoyed success in Australia in the Group II Herbert Power Stakes and Listed RM Ansett Classic.

Fawkner Park (image Racing Photos)

His dam Za'Hara (Raven’s Pass) is a half-sister to Gr1 Arlington Million Stakes winner Debussy (Diesis), Group III Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner Laugh Aloud (Dubawi), and the stakes-placegetters Celtic Prince (Shamardal), Cantilena (Dubawi), and Entertainment (Halling).

Fawkner Park is the 67th black-type winner for the former Coolmore shuttler Zoffany (IRE), The son of Dansili shuttled for four seasons, the last in 2015 in which he left 142 live foals, nearly the total produced in his first three seasons. 

Zoffany (IRE) (image Mark Smith)

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Race Result - Commercial Club Albury - Albury Gold Cup LR 2000m

Albury Track: Good(4) Time: 2:00.49
1
Fawkner Park
- 5g Zoffany (IRE) x Za'hara (IRE) (Raven's Pass (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
2
3.2
Regal Lion
- 5g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Red Delight (NZ) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: A B Collett 56.5
3
4.7
Danish Fortune
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Footsteps Of God (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: Darren McLeod Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
Magnus
4
5.2
Blackcomb
- 5m Vancouver (AUS) x Rocha (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
5
6.2
Marsabit
- 6g Mehmas (IRE) x Masela (IRE) (Medicean (GB))
Tnr: D A Williams Rdr: Q Krogh 54
6
6.9
Miracle Spin
- 5g Pivotal (GB) x Field Of Miracles (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: D R Beasley 54
7
11.4
Overrun
- 5m Duporth (AUS) x Overture (AUS) (Northern Drake (AUS))
Tnr: K A Davison Rdr: Ms K Nisbet 54
8
26.4
Brungle Creek
- 5g Glass Harmonium (IRE) x Ournie (AUS) (Mr Henrysee (USA))
Tnr: Sylvia Thompson Rdr: J Duffy 54
9
28.9
Testing The Cugat
- 5g King Cugat (USA) x Testthebudget (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Heath Maclean Rdr: J Lyon 54
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