A stakes-winner in Ireland when trained by Joseph O’Brien, Fastnet Rock import Buckaroo (GB) came to Australia last year to run in the Group I ATC King Charles Stakes and Group I VRC Champions Stakes and while he didn’t win either of those, he showed his true colours at Randwick on Saturday for his new trainer Chris Waller.
Gelded after some indifferent runs during the autumn carnival, Buckaroo has returned to racing in good heart this time around and improved off a first up eighth in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes to win the Group II ATC Chelmsford Stakes (!600m) in a driving finish over his stablemate Hinged.
Buckaroo raced in a more forward position for Tommy Berry and had just enough left to hold off a late dive from Hinged to win by a head taking his overall record to four wins and five placings from 19 starts.
"The real top liners are at home today, but these horses deserve their time in the sun,” said Chris Waller.
"There's some good prize money on offer in the next few weeks, and they won't have to clash with the better horses.I think Hill Stakes, Craven Plates, they're million-dollar races, and that's where they're heading."
"He's been gelded since last preparation, his first-up run was good, and his work has been good. Tommy had the initiative just to be a bit further forward today with the way the track's racing, which is how we're used to racing in the UK and Ireland. It's a good reward for a tough old horse."
Buckaroo is a half-brother to exciting young Group III winning stayer Middle Earth and is the best of five winners from stakes-winning Galileo mare Roheryn, a daughter of fast More Than Ready filly La Chunga, who won the Group III York Albany Stakes and Summer Stakes.
Fastnet Rock has been retired from stud duties at Coolmore with his place on the roster now filled by his young son Acrobat, who stands at a fee of $13,750.
