Fastnet Rock was a crowd pleaser when paraded as a living legend at the Coolmore stallion parade last month, but sadly this spring was to be his last.
Coolmore issued the following statement - Earlier today our much-loved Champion Sire Fastnet Rock was humanely euthanized at Coolmore, his place of birth and home for the past 20 years. In that time, Fastnet Rock forged a legacy that will see him recognized as one of the greatest stallions Australia has ever produced.
“This is such a sad day for everyone who has worked at Coolmore and played a part in Fastnet’s life. Our thoughts today are with all the staff who cared for him over the past 24 years,” said Tom Magnier.
“He was born and prepared as a yearling here at Coolmore and raced in the navy silks for Paul Perry and our ownership partners. Residing in the stallion barn for 20 years, he was the kindest and smartest horse you would ever meet and I’m so glad that we got to parade him one last time at the open day two weeks ago, where he looked incredible. Sadly, he suffered an injury over the weekend, which deteriorated rapidly and we did not want him to suffer. Coolmore Australia would not be what it is today without Fastnet Rock and we owe him so much.”
His legacy is woven into the fabric of racing and breeding, an enduring testament to a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
Fastnet Rock’s total number of individual Stakes winners stands at 197, including Atlantic Jewel and arguably his greatest ever performer Via Sistina, still flying the flag for him.
Crowned Champion Broodmare Sire for the past two seasons, his legacy will live on through his daughters who have already produced a phenomenal 150 Stakes winners, as well as his sire sons such as Acrobat.