Fastnet Rock 3YO Shows Promise

Astute trainer Mike Moroney often unearths a talented three year-old in the back end of the season and Loyalty Man (3g Fastnet Rock x Imperial Beauty, by Imperial Ballet)  gave the impression he may have more to offer when scoring a dominant win at Sandown on Wednesday. A maiden winner back in the spring and fourth in the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes beaten a length and a half to Sovereign Nation, Loyalty Man looks to have come back from his summer break a stronger horse. A winner second up from a spell at Sandown, he went even better again today in the Benchmark 70 event over 1600 metres. Sent out favourite, he relished the step up in distance to forge clear and beat a pretty handy field by more than a length with smart staying types Burton and Red Alto filling the placings. All three are worth following in longer races with carnivals in Adelaide and Brisbane looming on the horizon. A $350,000 Magic Millions purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Loyalty Man has won three of eight starts and is the second winner for Imperial Beauty (USA), winner of the Group I Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp. The yearling full brother to Loyalty Man made $280,000 at Magic Millions this year and Imperial Beauty has a Choisir weanling filly to follow and was covered by the same sire again last spring.