Blueblood Double for Fastnet Rock

Champion sire Fastnet Rock posted an early winning double on Wednesday with maiden wins for blue-blooded fillies Romantic Time (3f Fastnet Rock x Shalt Not, by St Covet) and Pride Rock (3f Fastnet Rock x Pride of Pine, by Lion Cavern), the former a three-quarter sister to former star juvenile Amelia’s Dream and the latter a full sister to a Group I winner.

Bred and retained to race by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of Cambridge Stud, the Chris Waller trained Romantic Time improved on two recent third placings at her only previous runs to take the 1250 metre Benchmark 67 event by a half head.

Cambridge Stud bought her dam Shalt Not for $1,050,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale just months after her daughter Amelia’s Dream won the Group II STC Silver Slipper Stakes by six lengths in record time.

Romantic Time is the eighth winner from eight to race from Shalt Not, a stakes-winning half-sister by St Covet to Group I winner Grand Zulu.

Another royally bred Fastnet Rock filly to cast off maiden status is Pride Rock, who scored by the best part of a length over 1100 metres for the Robbie Griffiths stable at Bendigo. Luckless when fourth on debut at Kilmore earlier this month, she quickly made amends to win in good style.

A $250,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Princeton Thoroughbred Stud from the Glastonbury Farms draft, Pride Rock was bred by Lisa Randle and is a sister to Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Lone Rock being the third winner from Pride of Pine.

Fastnet Rock is currently leading the Australian General Sires List with over $4.5 million in progeny earnings, his success underpinned by his three year-olds. Fastnet Rock is the leading sire of three year-olds with 20 winners of $2.3 million headed by his pair of Group I winning fillies First Seal and Amicus.