Cougar takes G2 Joel Stakes for Fastnet

Red-hot Fastnet Rock was responsible for the G2 Joel Stakes winner at Newmarket on Friday when Cougar Mountain (5h Fastnet Rock-Descant, by Nureyev) came out in front. The tough son of Fastnet Rock, trained and jointly bred by Aidan O’Brien, could have booked his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup as he powered three and a quarter lengths clear of Gifted Master. Moore said: “It always felt like he’d win today. It went well for him and he thoroughly deserved it. He's held his form very well.” Coolmore’s UK representative Kevin Buckley added: “We came here hoping, we knew he'd come out of his race at Doncaster in good form and he likes good to firm ground. “We're going to have to go in search of that ground again and we might have a look at the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day if the ground is suitable alternatively we could go over to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Mile."