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Fastnet Rock Stayer Might Be Headed Back for Second Melbourne Cup

Tara Madgwick - Sunday September 1

Seventh in the Melbourne Cup last year, the Willie Mullins trained French bred Fastnet Rock stayer Absurde may have booked his ticket back to Australia for a second tilt at the Melbourne Cup following a strong win in the Listed Chester Stakes (1m6 ½ f) overnight.

The six year-old Fastnet Rock gelding won at the Cheltenham Jumping Festival earlier this year and was a last start fourth in the Group III Irish St Leger Trial.

Ridden by Daniel Tudhope, he surged clear to win by a length and a quarter taking his overall record to six wins and eight placings from 21 starts with this victory his first in a Black Type race.

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Absurde and his faithful strapper Emilie Seigle were media favourites in Melbourne last year and she was by his side for this victory as well.

Bred by Wertheimer Et Frere, Absured was initially raced in France by the Wertheimers before he was offered in the Arqana Deauville Summer Mixed Sale in 2022 where he was bought by PB Bloodstock/ H Kirk / Willie Mullins for €260,000.

He is the best of five winners from stakes-placed Singspiel mare Incroyable from the family of Group I winner Juvenia.

The 194th stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock, Absurde might not be the best of his offspring to ever race, but he’s probably the one that has won over the longest trip with his wins running out to 4000m!

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