Group Double for Fastnet Rock

A brilliant winner of the Group I ATC Australian Oaks in the autumn, exciting Fastnet Rock mare Unforgotten was a well backed favourite in the Group II ATC Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and showed her class with a powerful win in the weight-for-age test over 1600m.

A fast closing sixth in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes when resuming from a spell last month, the Chris Waller trained Unforgotten (image Steve Hart) was held up for a run at the top of the straight, but when angled into the clear by Hugh Bowman quickly asserted her superiority.

She hit top gear and shot clear to score a dominant length and a half win over last year's Victoria Derby winner Ace High indicating she will be a force in whatever races are selected for her this spring.

"She's pretty smart and put the writing on the wall when she won the Oaks," said Hugh Bowman.

"I wouldn't imagine she'd be beating Winx anytime soon, but there are plenty of nice races for her. Chris has lots of options to choose from."

A $360,000 NZB Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft for Chris Waller Racing, Unforgotten has won six of 11 starts earning over $1.2 million in prizemoney for her big team of Waller stable clients.

"She's very special," said Waller.

"If we didn't have Winx, I'd be looking at the Epsom and Cox Plate, but she won't be taking her on. The Caulfield Cup might be the race, we'll just have to see where she fits in."

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 has a yearling colt by brilliant Group I winner No Nay Never (USA) and was covered last year by Champion 2YO Air Force Blue (USA).

Unforgotten made it a back to back Group race double for Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock, who also sired Comin' Through to win the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes. Read about him here.