Group One Quinella for Fastnet Rock

Reigning champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock wasted no time stamping his mark on the Flemington carnival when providing the quinella in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes with Sydney fillies Nechita (3f Fastnet Rock x Artistique, by Peintre Celebre) and Jolie Bay (3f Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay, by Snippets) fighting out the finish. The John Thompson trained Nechita had looked a star in the making at the start of spring when winning the Group III ATC Silver Shadow Stakes at her second start, but has been on the sidelines since finishing out of a place in the Group I ATC Golden Rose in which she was galloped on. Given time to recover and primed for her return with a sizzling jump put at Flemington earlier this week, Nechita looked sensational in the yard and ran right up to her appearance. Partnered by regular rider Christian Reith, Nechita was always travelling smoothly just off the pace and with a furlong to run was poised to swoop. When let off the bridle, she bounded clear to win the 1200 metre dash by three parts of a length from another highly promising filly in Jolie Bay, providing Reith with his very first Group I winner. “No three year-old has her turn of foot,” said a delighted Reith. “She is very explosive!” John Thompson was emotional in the aftermath of the win declaring Nechita, “The fastest horse I’ve ever had anything to do with. “I’ve always thought she was a topline sprinter. She is a good horse going forward and she can win more of these.” Bred by Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds in partnership with Judy Somers, Nechita was a $130,000 purchase for Patinack Farm from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2011 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has already won $450,300 in winning three of her four starts to date. She is the second winner from two to race for former handy metropolitan winner Artistique, a half-sister by Peintre Celebre (USA) to stakes-winners Winona and Chiming Lass. Nechita is the 11th Group I winner for Fastnet Rock, who went close to a Group I double with his three year-old son Super Cool (3g Fastnet Rock x Queen Mother, by Kingmambo) finishing second in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby.