Sales Topping Fastnet Rock Colt Breaks His Maiden

Mark Smith - Sunday September 15

As a $2,300,000 sales-topping brother to triple Group 1 winner Shoals, much was expected of the Fastnet Rock colt Groundswell who paid his first dividend at his second start with an authoritative win in a maiden over 1218 metres at Geelong on Sunday.

Off the scene for 20 weeks following his career debut fourth at Ballarat, Groundswell was among the first to begin under Mark Zahra who had the son of Fastnet Rock travelling sweetly behind the leader Beau Zoom.

Advertisement


When the heat came on, Beau Zoom wasn't giving in without a fight however Groundswell gradually wore him down and won quite cosily at the finish by a length.

Anthony Freedman has trained the first three foals out of the valuable mare The Broken Shore and all are by Fastnet Rock.

Groundswell follows the top-class Shoals and the Sandown winner Tides who won so impressively at Bendigo on Wednesday and Sam Freedman said Groundswell is typical of the breed.

"That was super. Much like the whole family they only do just enough to get over the line, Freedman said.

"I was a bit worried at the top of the straight that he wouldn't go past him (Beau Zoom) but he really pinned his ears back that last 100 and looked like further will really suit him.

"We saw the full-sister Tides win last week and she took a bit of time to come to hand and she is a mare on the up. Shoals was brilliant as a two-year-old and went on at three. This guy has taken a little bit longer but hopefully he can reach the same heights as Shoals one day."

Consigned by Arrowfield Stud to the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Groundswell (pictured as a yearling ) made a sales-topping $2.3 million bid from Anthony Freedman.

He carries the colours of Jonathon Munz's Pinecliff Racing who races him with several other partners including Arrowfield and Musk Creek Farm

A half-sister to Redoute's Choice, The Broken Shore is wasting no time in recouping the $1.9 million shelled out by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at the 2014 Teeley Asset Dispersal.

The Sydney winning daughter of Hussonet (USA) has a 2yo colt by Medaglia d'Oro and a Fastnet Rock yearling filly.

She missed to I Am Invincible last year.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
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.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
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.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Milestone for Fastnet Rock
Champion sire Fastnet Rock clocked up his 100th Graded stakes-winner at the weekend in the US when five year-old entire Desert Stone captured the Group II San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.
$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).
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.