Upon This Rock Captures Starstruck Classic

The Gai Waterhouse trained Upon This Rock (5m Fastnet Rock x Joleur, by Bite the Bullet) found her best form to take out the Listed WATC Starstruck Classic at Ascot in Perth on Saturday. Not beaten far in her two previous WA runs, Upon This Rock relished the step up to 1600 metres, travelling second in the run and then forging clear to win by three-quarters of a length, her overall record now six wins and 10 placings from 31 starts with prizemoney just shy of $400,000. Upon This Rock was bought by James Bester Bloodstock for $225,000 from the Willow Park draft at the 2009 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is raced by Laurie Macri, who shares in the ownership of that other star Fastnet Rock filly Atlantic Jewel. Already a stakes-winner having won the Listed Dark Jewel Classic at Scone earlier this year, Upon This Rock is a half-sister to stakes-winners Gaze On and Bhutane Dane, so is the third stakes-winner for outstanding producer Joleur. A daughter of prolific sire of winners Bite the Bullet (USA), Joleur is a sister to Group III winner Mica’s Pride, (the dam of Group II winner Varenna Miss and stakes-winner Silently) and stakes-winner Amah Rock, who is also by Fastnet Rock. Upon This Rock is the 10th Australian stakes-winner this season for Fastnet Rock, who is leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings and stakes-winners.