Since 2015, sons of Fastnet Rock have had a growing influence on our racing
with Hinchinbrook the Champion Australian First Season Sire for 2014/2015,
while another Fastnet Rock son Rothesay was the Leading First Season Sire by
winners.Smart Missile was the Champion Australian First Season Sire for 2015/2016, while his Group I winning rival Foxwedge has overtaken him this year to be Champion Australian Second Season Sire for 2016/2017.
Hinchinbrook has powered onwards and upwards and was the Champion Australian Third Season Sire for 2016/2107, while Your Song represents the next wave of success having finished as the leading Australian First Season Sire by winners for 2016/2017.
Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge, Smart Missile, Your Song and Rothesay have all left stakes-winners as have other Fastnet Rock sons such as Wanted, Highly Recommended and Stryker, the sire of Group I New Zealand Derby winner Rangipo.
Eight stakes producing sire sons would suggest Fastnet Rock is going to leave a lasting legacy and Neville Murdoch sees blue sky ahead for his well credentialed candidate Cluster.
A brilliant sprinter miler, Cluster scored a career best win in the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes over 1400 metres when producing his customary explosive finish to overpower two other brilliant Group winning Fastnet Rock performers in Bull Point and Ninth Legion.
Unfortunately for Cluster, he had only two more starts finishing a close up
fifth in the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before being injured in the
Group I VRC Darley Classic.Priced at $6,600, Cluster is one of those horses whose ability exceeded his race record and as such represents a great opportunity for budget conscious breeders with his female pedigree another obvious big plus.
Cluster's first two dams are by champion Australian sires Last Tycoon (IRE) and Bletchingly, while his third dam I Like Diamonds won the Group I AJC Champagnes Stakes and is by Golden Slipper winning sire Baguette.
From a fast Australian family, bristling with stakes-winners, Cluster is true to his pedigree in type and performance.
"He is a stunning individual that has won high praise from some of the best judges in the business," said Neville Murdoch.
"You can see the Last Tycoon in him, that quality and refinement. His yearlings are just terrific and we've had both Inglis and Magic Millions here in recent weeks and they've just been bowled over by the cracking types of horses he is throwing."
For further information contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706 and visit Larneuk Stud.
