Fastnet Stars of the Future

Fastnet Rock didn’t have a stakes-winner on Saturday, but he did sire a couple of impressive two year-old winners in Sydney that had potential stakes-winner written all over them. The Anthony Cumming strained colt Ninth Legion (2c Fastnet Rock x Xaar's Jewel, by Xaar) made it two wins in as many starts when he powered home late to snatch a narrow win in the open juvenile event over 1400 metres. "He gets you out of your chair. He’s a pretty exciting horse,” Cummings said. "He’s just a really nice horse who will improve again with the run.” Ninth Legion is entered for the Group I BRC TJ Smith Stakes in Brisbane next Saturday. “He’s certainly ticking all the boxes to get on the float midweek and have a go at the Group I,” he added. Raced by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds, Ninth Legion was a modest $110,000 purchase for his trainer from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the first foal of Xaar’s Jewel, a winning half-sister to stakes-winner Kidlat and to the dam of Group I NZ Two Thousand Guineas winner Tell a Tale. Winning the previous race in scintillating fashion was exciting filly Nechita (2f Fastnet Rock x Artistique by Peintre Celebre) , who bolted in to win her debut by three and a half lengths. Ridden by Christian Reith, the John Thompson trained filly settled off the early pace and accelerated strongly in the straight to win as she pleased in a highly promising display as a heavily backed favourite. "She felt impressive. Even leaving the gates she was so professional, settled good in the run and went when I pushed the button on her,” Reith said. Bred by Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds, Nechita was a $130,000 purchase from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2011 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is the second winner from two to race for former handy metropolitan winner Artistique, a half-sister by Peintre Celebre (USA) to stakes-winners Winona and Chiming Lass.