Unforgotten –Fastest Australian Oaks Winner in History

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 14
The Inglis Easter sale-topper and three stakes-winners at Randwick on the second day of The Championships including Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten made this a week to remember for Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock.



A real rising star for the Chris Waller stable, Unforgotten beat the colts to win the Group II ATC Phar Lap Stakes last month before rattling home for second in the ATC Vinery Stakes over 2000 metres behind blue-blooded High Chaparral (IRE) filly Hiyaam.

Punters believed she could turn the tables on Hiyaam in the Oaks over the longer 2400 metres and were proven correct as she triumphed to win by a length as favourite.

Unforgotten, the fastest Australian Oaks winner in historyRidden perfectly by Hugh Bowman, Unforgotten (images Steve Hart) settled just worse than midfield and hit the line hard to win as she pleased in a brisk 2:27.21, which bettered Serenade Rose's 2006 race record of 2.28:80.

"She had the perfect run the way the race was run. We knew Hiyaam was the one to chase, she set about chasing and it was good to see her get the upper hand," Waller said.

"The first question was her stamina and whether it would hold up.

"For a three-year-old filly it's quite a long way, you don't know about 2400 metres until you run it."

A $360,000 NZB Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft for Chris Waller Racing, Unforgotten has won five of nine starts earning over $1million in prizemoney for her big team of Waller stable clients.

Foaled and raised at Coolmore, Unforgotten is a sister to stakes-placed Special Memories and is the third winner from Memories of You (IRE), a half-sister to dual Group I winner Matiara from an impressive European Black Type family.

Memories of You produced a colt by brilliant Group I winner No Nay Never (USA) last spring and was then covered by Champion 2YO Air Force Blue (USA).

Unforgotten is the 34th Group I winner worldwide for Fastnet Rock and is the seventh bred from a daughter of Galileo.

She was the third stakes-winner at Randwick for Fastnet Rock joining California Turbo (read about him here) and Catchy (read about here here).

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.