Planet Rock Takes Eight Carat

High class filly Planet Rock (3f Fastnet Rock x Akris, by Zabeel) proved her wet track win in the Group I NZ 1,000 Guineas was no fluke when she defeated a crack field of 16 to win the Group II ARC Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Prepared by the husband and wife team of Peter and Dawn Williams, Planet Rock was ridden a positive race by Hayden Tinsley and ran the 1600 metres out strongly to defy the late challengers and win the prestigious event by a dominant length and a half. It was the second stakes win for Planet Rock, who has the overall record of four wins and four placings from eight starts with prizemoney of $338,975. A $290,000 purchase from the Wellfield Lodge draft at the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Planet Rock is the first foal of the stoutly bred Zabeel mare Akris, a half-sister to two mile stakes-winner Gorky Park from the family of Group III winner Galroof, the dam of spring stakes-winners Pinnacles and Sabrage. Planet Rock is one of 23 stakes-winners for Fastnet Rock and is his eighth Group I winner, four of them coming during the spring with Planet Rock joining Atlantic Jewel, Pop ‘n’ Rock and Mosheen. Interestingly all four of his spring Group I winners carry Sir Tristram (IRE) blood on their female side, Atlantic Jewel and Planet Rock from mares by Zabeel, Pop ‘n’ Rock from a daughter of Sir Tristram (IRE), while Mosheen’s grand-dam is by the Sir Tristram horse Kaapstad. There are only three yearlings to be offered at the 2012 Magic Millions that are bred the same way. Lot 9 Filly Fastnet Rock x Governing Spirit (NZ) - Coolmore Stud Lot 489 Filly Fastnet Rock x Black Minx (NZ) - Newgate Farm Lot 572 Colt Fastnet Rock x Demanding - Racetree