Brilliant Return for Fastnet Mare Lumosty

For the second year in a row the Group II MRC Caulfield Sprint produced a dead heat result with classy mare Lumosty (4m Fastnet Rock x Luminous Eyes, by Bachelor Duke) sharing the victory with Éclair Choice. Last year it was Bel Sprinter and Miracles of Life splitting the decision and this year the 1000 metre dash produced an equally thrilling result. Having her first run back from a spell following a third in the Group I Tatts Tiara during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the Robert Smerdon trained Lumosty lifted late to put her nose on the line right next to Éclair Choice for Phillip Stokes. Lumosty’s trainer Robert Smerdon said the daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock would now be targeted at a Group I feature during the Melbourne Cup week at Flemington. "She’s a Group II winner so we’ll go to Flemington and have a crack at the Darley Classic in three weeks,” he said. "It’s going to be a task but she goes well down the straight.” A $185,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Flemington Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Lumosty runs for Phil Sly and Katsumi Yoshida, who enjoyed much success with another star daughter of Fastnet Rock in Mosheen, who won four Group I events including the VRC Oaks by nine lengths. Foaled and raised at Coolmore, Lumosty has the impressive record of five wins and four placings from 12 starts with prizemoney nearing $500,000. She is the first foal of Irish Group III winner Luminous Eyes (IRE), who comes from the family of champion racehorse Pilsudski and Group I winners Youmzain and Creachadoir.