Fastnet Colts Rock Premier

Fastnet Rock has been the talk of the Australasian sales season so far this year with top sellers at the Gold Coast and New Zealand, so it’s no surprise to see him setting the standard this week in Melbourne at the 2012 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale with 13 yearlings selling so far at an average $186,346. Fastnet Rock had the top two lots on Tuesday with an outstanding colt (pictured) from Bellevue Lady (NZ) topping proceedings late in the day when fetching $500,000 for Musk Creek Farm when secured by James Bester Bloodstock and Demi O’Byrne for Coolmore. The same purchasers took home the top Fastnet Rock colt at Magic Millions (from Rose of Cimmaron that made $960,000) and were underbidder on the top Fastnet Rock colt in New Zealand, a youngster from Nureyev’s Girl that made $1,750,000. The $500,000 colt is bred on the same cross as Atlantic Jewel being from a daughter of Zabeel and is a half-brother to smart Sydney metro winner Flying Empress from the family of European Group I winners Cherokee Rose, Kirklees and Mastery. Rheinwood Pastoral kicked a big goal with their colt from So Funny that made $340,000 to the bid of BC3 Thoroughbreds and David Hayes Racing. The fifth foal from So Funny, an unraced half-sister by Spinning World to Group II STC Silver Slipper winner Ballybleue, the colt comes from the family of champion sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur. He was bred by a partnership that includes professional golfer Paul Gow, who was on hand to watch the colt go through the ring. “I own a few mares with some mates and we have them down at Rheinwood on the Southern Highlands with Ray Willis and Tony Scott, who have done a great job getting this colt ready for the sale,” Gow told TVN. “It’s a great industry and we really enjoy being a part of it... I need to talk a few more golfers into getting involved! “We thought he might make 160 to 200, so it’s been a great result.”