Fastnet Filly Wins Keith Nolan Classic

Exciting prospect Dawn Wall (3f Fastnet Rock x Mennetou, by Entrepreneur) capped a meteoric rise from maiden to stakes-winner in less than a month with an exciting last to first win in the Group III Keith Nolan Classic at Kembla on Friday. Kerrin McEvoy navigated a path along the inside rail for the Chris Waller trained Dawn Wall, who powered to the line to win the 1600 metre feature by a long neck with four lengths back to the third horse. "Admittedly she got all the favours up the rail but it was a good effort to come from last to first in the home straight," said Chris Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth. "I don't think Kerrin was overly hard on her and I think she had a little bit left in the locker despite the narrow margin. "She's a beautifully bred filly who will get over further than the distance of today so she looks in for a great autumn." Further Black Type assignments lie in the future as Dawn Wall progresses towards the Group I ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 8. Dawn Wall was a $1.3 million Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for BBA Ireland, whose Adrian Nicoll revealed after the sale that she was bought for a European partnership that included members of the Niarchos family. "She will be the first horse the Niarchos family have raced in Australia,” Nicoll said at the time and now that first horse is a winner! Foaled and raised at Coolmore, Dawn Wall has won three of four starts earning $183,050 in prizemoney. She is a half-sister to European Group III winners Osaila and Obama Rule and is the fifth winner from Mennetou (IRE), a three-quarter sister to Group I Arc winner and sire Carnegie from Group I Arc winner Detroit. She is the 108th stakes-winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock, who has 27 entries for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next month. Mennetou produced a Fastnet Rock filly last year and is back in foal to him again.