Another Star Colt for Fastnet Rock

Promising colt El Roca (3c Fastnet Rock x Rubimill, by Rubiton) was an eye-catcher as he paraded before the Listed ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Trained in New Zealand by Trent Busuttin, El Roca is a gorgeous individual and ran right up to his good looks when defeating seasoned Group I performers Dissident and Romantic Touch by two lengths in the 1200 metre sprint. Last seen when finishing an unlucky fifth to Long John in the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas, El Roca will have plenty of attractive options ahead of him in the next few months. “You like to see them travelling like that on the turn,” said Trent Busuttin. “He was ready for today, but there is good natural improvement in him going forward.” The $3million Group I ATC Doncaster on April 12 is the obvious goal for El Roca, but Busuttin intends to keep him to his own age group for the time being with the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas on March 15 a more immediate goal. Passed in shy of a modest $120,000 reserve when offered by Westbury Stud at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale, El Roca was already a stakes-winner in New Zealand and has now won three of five starts earning nearly $160,000 in prizemoney. He is the best of three winners from unraced Rubiton mare Rubimill, a sister to Group III winner Millrich, the dam of Group III winner and sire Danerich. El Roca is the tenth Australian stakes-winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock this season.