One To Watch - Gosford

Mark Smith - Thursday July 18

Beaten into second place when making his career debut at over 1500 metres at Hawkesbury on July 4, the 3yo Fastnet Rock gelding Dambulla made no mistake at his second try with a dominant performance over 1600 metres at Gosford on Thursday.

Hung out on a limb early from his outside barrier, Blake Shinn settled Dambulla on the outside of the pacesetting Nodeel, before setting the gelding to an all-out drive before the home turn.

Quickly disposing of the leader, Dambulla safely held the fast-finishing Zenardini (Bernardini) by a length and a quarter with Not A Biggie (Tavistock) a further three lengths back in third.

Advertisement

Trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Dambulla originally made a sale-topping $400,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale but could elicit a bid of no higher than $150,000 by Dynamic Syndications when offered by Hallmark Stud at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Bred by Coolmore, Dambulla is a half-brother to Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 Yalumba Stakes winner Whobegotyou (Street Cry).

He is the tenth and final foal of the stakes-placed Temple of Peace (JPN) (Carnegie) who hit a home run for Emerald Thoroughbreds Bill Benson who purchased the then eight-year-old mare in foal to Strada, for just $5250 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, a year after the yearling Whobegotyou went through the ring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
More G1 Success for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage
A Champion 2YO that won the Karaka Million in 2018, quality Fastnet Rock mare Avantage again showed her class at Trentham on Saturday when scoring a determined victory in the Group I JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) defeating Enzo’s Lad, who had won the previous two editions of the prestigious sprint.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
$1million Fastnet Rock Colt Chasing Karaka Million 3YO
Victorian trainer David Hayes will be in New Zealand later this week as he puts the finishing touches on three-year-old colt Conqueror ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
Nicks That Click – Looks Like This One Has Worked Again
This nick involving two champion sires is well proven and documented with a two year-old winner last Saturday appearing as the latest example.
Godolphin Make Their Move
The first two days at Magic Millions were without a Godolphin purchase, but they moved swiftly in the first hour of trade on Friday to secure two fillies by Fastnet Rock and Snitzel for $600,000 each.