Smart Sandown Double for Fastnet

Reigning champion sire Fastnet Rock was in good form on Wednesday and posted an early double at Sandown courtesy of handy stayer Rock Robster (4m Fastnet Rock x Chinese Whispers, by Woodman) and lightly raced three year-old Crookhaven (3g Fastnet Rock x Flying Dansino, by Fusaichi Pegasus). The Mark Kavanagh trained Crookhaven relished the step up to 1600 at his third run back from a spell, charging home to win by a length and a quarter in a promising display. “He’s a pretty good horse this bloke,” said winning rider Michael Rodd. "He’s just got everything you want in a nice horse. He’s laid back, very easy to ride. He actually gets out of the barriers really well but then he just switches off and you can put him wherever you want.” Crookhaven was a $90,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the draft of Bylong Park Thoroughbreds, who have had plenty of luck breeding Fastnet Rock’s including star filly Mosheen and Magic Millions winner Driefontein. Crookhaven is the second winner for stakes-placed Flying Dansino, a half-sister to stakes-winner Zagreb from the family of Group I winner Leica Smile. Bolting in with the previous race over 2400 metres was four year-old David Hayes trained mare Rock Robster, who won by four lengths, her third victory from 17 starts. Already a stakes-winner having won the Listed Tasmanian Oaks as a three year-old, Rock Robster will be aimed towards the Listed VRC Bagot Handicp over 2800 metres t Flemington on New Year’s Day. Rock Robster was a $100,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mark Pilkington from the Patinack Farm draft and is the best of three winners from the Woodman mare Chinese Whispers.