Nicks That Click – Best of them All?

Tara Madgwick - Monday May 14

Bloodstock followers were entitled to be shocked to see Fastnet Rock's Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap winning son Wanted sire the winner of the Group I SAJC South Australian Derby last Saturday, but a closer look at the pedigree for Leicester reveals the magic of one of the best sire nicks in the world.

Leicester is the latest G1 success for Fastnet Rock and Galileo

Leicester is the latest G1 success for Fastnet Rock and Galileo

Bred by Yarraman Park, Leicester is the first foal of Defy the Odds (GB), a well related daughter of Coolmore's Champion European Sire Galileo.

Coolmore's resident champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock and Galileo have established a spectacularly successful nick that has resulted in 18 stakes-winners worldwide from just 97 runners with eight of those stakes-winners being Group I winners and three of them - Leicester, Unforgotten (ATC Australian Oaks) and Age of Fire (Levin Classic) – coming this year.

Getting more specific to cover just those horses sired by Fastnet Rock from Galileo mares and we lose two stakes-winners, but the stakes-winner to runner rate shoots up to an impressive 27%!

If you own a mare by Galileo (or any of his sire sons such as New Approach (IRE) or Teofilo (IRE), it only makes sense to be looking very hard at Fastnet Rock and his sire sons this spring and there are many options to consider if the man himself is priced beyond your budget.

Fastnet Rock will have around 20 sons standing at stud this spring headed by Group I sires Hinchinbrook and Foxwedge, proven stakes sires Your Song and Smart Missile as well as exciting newcomer Merchant Navy.

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