Flemington Stakes-Winner for Fastnet

A blue-blooded three-quarter brother to Group I winning million dollar earner Aqua D’Amore, promising colt Petrology (3c Fastnet Rock x Romantic River, by Irish River) is an interesting prospect after winning the Listed VRC Tcl Stakes at Flemington on Oaks Day. An encouraging winner on debut at Mornington back in March for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Petrology has struggled to translate talent into results since then with his mind clearly on other things. Stepping out to 1800 metres for the first time, Petrology was well ridden by Dwayne Dunn, finding the front not long after turning for home and fighting on well to win by a head. “He’s shown plenty of ability to win a race like this,” said Dunn. “He got there a little bit too soon, so it was a great effort to hold on all the way up the straight.” A $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Petrology has two wins and two seconds from eight starts with prizemoney nearing $160,000 and may look to the Group II MRC Sandown Guineas for his next run. “He was extremely colty before the race, but his trackwork has been first class,” Hayes said. “As a gelding he could be a proper racehorse, but he’s won a stakes race now and that complicates things.” Foaled and raised at Coolmore, Petrology is a three-quarter brother to Group I winner and $1.9 million earner Aqua D’Amore and is one of seven winners from 21 year-old Romantic River (USA). Petrology is the 73rd stakes-winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock, who will shuttle back to Ireland in 2015.