80th Stakes-Winner for Fastnet Rock

Entered for the Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate, Irish bred Cougar Mountain (4h Fastnet Rock  x Descant, by Nureyev) found top form at Leopardstown to win the Group III Desmond Stakes. Third in the Group I Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, then fourth in the Group I Coral-Eclipse Stakes to Golden Horn and fifth in the Sussex Stakes to Solow at his most recent runs, the Aidan O’Brien trained entire appreciated a slight drop in grade for this one mile assignment. With blinkers off and a tongue tie on, Cougar Mountain travelled up on the pace in second for Joseph O’Brien and forged clear to win by three-quarters of a length. “He was quite lazy when he got to the front,” said Aidan O’Brien. “It´s great that he´s won and it should do his confidence good. He´s battle-hardened, loved the fast ground and could do plenty of travelling.” This was the first stakes win for Cougar Mountain, who is the best of five winners from Nureyev mare Descant, a half-sister to Group I winner and sire Zafonic from an impressive Black Type family. Cougar Mountain is the 80^th stakes-winner worldwide for reigning champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock.