Group One Contenders for Fastnet Rock

Last seen finishing a brave second in the Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap, talented mare Missrock (4m Fastnet Rock x Miss Judgement, by Strategic) resumed from a spell with a resounding win over speedy mare Heatherly in the Listed MVRC Norman Carlyon Stakes. Well supported in betting, Missrock settled third as Heatherly set the speed and was clear around the home turn, but when Ben Melham asked Missrock for her effort she finished too well for the favourite to win the 1000 metre scamper by a neck.

Her trainer Robbie Laing said Missrock would return to Moonee Valley on September 9 for the Group II MVRC McEwen Stakes over 1000m, but he was interested in trying to obtain a start in the $10 million The Everest at Randwick in October.

"Watching her today, with the edge off her, she might want 1200m now," Laing said. "She's got Vega Magic form and she beat English home two starts ago and they're talking The Everest. "If she won a nice Group race in the next few weeks she might get a spot and she does go well at Randwick." Laing said Missrock returned from the spelling paddock 6-1/2 weeks ago but because of wet tracks in the Cranbourne area the only grass gallop she'd had was at Moonee Valley on Tuesday. "Going through the field, the barometer was which one of these could run second in a Goodwood and I didn't think there were many of them," Laing said. "I thought we'd be giving Heatherly a start, but this mare has a bit of guts about her." Laing said he will keep the daughter of Fastnet Rock to sprinting after being tried over a staying trip as a spring three-year-old filly. "Hopefully she can win a Group I," Laing said. "She's a very valuable mare as she is, but if we can build on that it would be terrific." A $500,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Cressfield draft, Missrock runs for a big group of owners and has more that recouped costs banking over $970,000 in winning four of 15 starts. Bred by Cressfield, Missrock is the best of four winners from Group III winning Strategic mare Miss Judgement, a sibling to Group I winner Mrs Onassis and Group winners Fifth Avenue Lady and Aussies Love Sport. Fastnet Rock also featured with a very exciting winner earlier on the program with three year-old filly Roomooz (3f Fastnet Rock x Pane in the Glass, by Testa Rossa) resuming to score a stylish victory over quality Pierro filly Tulip in an open fillies event that had all the hallmarks of a Black Type race without the actual Black Type. "The formlines will be strong - that was a cracking fillies race," said trainer Tony McEvoy after Roomooz led around the home turn under Luke Currie then held off the late charge from Tulip to score by a nose. "She got lost there when she was left in front and I think she did a super job to win," McEvoy said. "We knew she was fresh and we had a plan - we didn't want to be back off the speed if it turned into a slowly run race." Roomooz was racing for the first time since finishing unplaced in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and McEvoy said the daughter of Fastnet Rock will return to Moonee Valley for her next start. "She'll come back here for the Atlantic Jewel Stakes and then the Guineas Prelude and then the Thousand Guineas," McEvoy said. "I've always held her in high regard and I think what I was asking her to do in the autumn was a touch soon but when they have got as much ability as she has you press on if they are sound and well. "I really felt she had improved tremendously and she's as good as any three-year-old I've got - certainly my best filly. "In twelve months time she'll be better again." Roomooz was a $480,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the draft of Newgate Farm for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and has won two of four starts earning $130,500. Bred by SF Bloodstock and foaled and raised at Newgate Farm, Roomooz is the first foal of Group II winning Testa Rossa mare Pane in the Glass.