$1.6 Million Fastnet Colt at Inglis Easter

Setting the standard during the opening session of the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney on Tuesday was a stunning Fastnet Rock colt from stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Perfect Persuasion that fetched $1.6 million for Coolmore.

A three-quarter brother to stakes-placed Papillion and full brother to this season’s promising stakes-placed two year-old Lady Sharapova, the star colt was secured by UK based bloodstock agent John Warren.

He will remain in Australia and race for a syndicate of international owners who are reported to include the China Horse Club.

The colt is the third foal of a full sister to champion filly Alinghi in Perfect Persuasion, who lit up the Inglis sale ring back in 2006 when Demi O’Byrne purchased her for $2.6 million from the Yarraman Park draft.

Perfect Persuasion still has the distinction of being the most expensive yearling by her champion sire ever sold.

She has been a regular visitor to Fastnet Rock and has a weanling filly to follow and was covered by the superstar sire again last spring.

Fastnet Rock also featured with a $1million filly, his youngster from brilliant juvenile Hips Don’t Lie snapped up from the Coolmore draft by Hawkes Racing.

“She was a star filly and you have got to pay for star fillies. She is an investment, not an expensive purchase,” said Wayne Hawkes.

“She has been purchased for some stable clients and we are very, very happy to have her. From the first time we saw her we wanted her. Sometimes what you want and what you get are two different things at the yearling sales, so it’s good when a plan comes together.”

Bred on the same cross as champion Fastnet Rock filly Mosheen, this filly is the second foal of the Group II winning Stravinsky mare Hips Don't Lie, whose first foal, a full brother to this filly, made $900,000 at this sale last year when secured by Mark Kavanagh.

Hips Don’t Lie has also been back to Fastnet Rock, so has another filly foal to follow and is back in foal to him again.

Other big results for Fastnet Rock included colts from Hummingbird and Laetitia that sold for $700,000 and $600,000 respectively.