Smart Stakes-Winner for Fastnet Rock

A brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Villiers Stakes in 2013, Ninth Legion (5h Fastnet Rock x Xaar’s Jewel, by Xaar) recaptured that form at Randwick on Saturday to win the Listed ATC Carrington Stakes.

Resuming from a spell following a fourth placed finish in the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap, the Hawkes Racing prepared gelding dashed away to win the 1400 metre feature by a length and three-quarters.

Ninth Legion finished fifth in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Tuesday, which obviously topped him off perfectly for this assignment.

"From all reports he was really big in that trial so he’s come on very quickly and raced really well,” McDonald said.

"The ace barrier definitely helped, it was easy to follow the fence.”

Ninth Legion was a modest $110,000 purchase from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and runs for Segenhoe Thoroughbreds. His overall record is now six wins and six placings from 26 starts with prizemoney of $646,900.

He 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;
Ninth Legion is the 12th Australian stakes-winner this season for champion sire Fastnet Rock, who is the leading sire by stakes-winners and earnings.