Rising Star for Fastnet Rock

Raw talent transformed into a first stakes success for 2012 Magic Millions sale-topper Bull Point (3c Fastnet Rock x Rose of Cimmaron, by Bite the Bullet) at Caulfield on Saturday. Sent to Melbourne for a first up tilt at the Group III MRC Manfred Stakes over 1200 metres, the Gai Waterhouse trained son of Fastnet Rock looked a more committed competitor when he jumped well and settled just behind the leaders for Damien Oliver. At his last run before spelling, Bull Point settled a conspicuous last in the Group I ATC Golden Rose before charging home for third, but this time around there was no sign of that sort of waywardness. He raced genuinely throughout and when asked to accelerate did so smartly, dropping his rivals to go on and win by a length and a quarter. “He’s a quality colt this bloke,” said Damien Oliver. “He pleased me when he worked in blinkers the other day and showed nice acceleration today. “He sat up there on a good speed and gave a good kick.” A $960,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock and Demi O’Byrne from the Edinburgh Park draft, Bull Point runs for a syndicate that includes Coolmore and various partners including Peter Barnett, who was on hand for his return to scale. “If he focuses, he has enormous talent,” said Barnett. “We saw what he was capable of in the Golden Rose, but we have to keep him focused.” Bull Point has won three races and placed three times from seven starts earning $324,750 in prizemoney and is one of a number of high profile purchases from the 2012 sales made by Coolmore and partners with the goal of creating stallion prospects. “We purchased mostly colts by Fastnet Rock as well as one by More Than Ready and one by Henrythenavigator,” Barnett revealed. “The results so far have been encouraging, but I think Bull Point would be the most promising of the group.” Bred by Ian Smith of Edinburgh Park, Bull Point is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to stakes-winners Amah Rock and Upon This Rock (both by Fastnet Rock) and is the first foal of Rose of Cimmaron, a winning sister to Group III winner Mica’s Pride, the dam of Group II winners Criterion and Varenna Miss, as well as stakes-winner Silently. Now owned by Dr Edmund and Mrs Belinda Bateman, Rose of Cimmaron was covered again last spring by Fastnet Rock. Bull Point is the 54th stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock, who has 10 yearlings for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to be followed by 55 at Inglis Easter.