Group Two Victory for Fastnet Colt

The Group II MVRC Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night featured a select field of three year-olds with spring stakes-winner Hvasstan (3c Fastnet Rock x Snow Hero, by True Hero) producing his best form to claim a deserved victory in the 2040 metre feature. Trained by Peter Gelagotis, Hvasstan came from last on the turn to finish fourth in the Group I VRC Australian Guineas at his previous run, but it was a different story in the Alister Clark as Craig Newitt had the strapping colt racing up on the speed in the small field. Set to an all-out drive coming around the home turn, Hvasstan safely held the challenge of Philippi to win by a length. "He's a pleasure to ride and he began a lot better than he did in the (Australian) Guineas,” Newitt said. "I just had to hold my line going into the first turn and once I ended up in the spot I wanted, I was pretty happy and he was going to win a long way out. "He's never really begun, he's always been a tad slow out, but today sprung the lids and we probably could have led them up if we asked him to.” Winner of the Group III MRC Norman Robinson Stakes in the spring, Hvasstan finished fourth in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby and his trainer is keen to test the son of Fastnet Rock in the Sydney version at Randwick with a lead up to that race likely to come in the in the Group 1 ATC Rosehill Guineas. A $260,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the draft of Supreme Thoroughbreds, Hvasstan is the first stakes-winner from Group II placed Snow Hero and has proven a good investment winning four races and placing second twice from just 10 starts with more than $440,000 in prizemoney. By True Hero from the family of Group I VATC Oakleigh Plate winner Coal Pak, Snow Hero has a colt foal by High Chaparral and is now back in foal to Fastnet Rock. Hvasstan is one of 12 stakes-winners this season for champion sire Fastnet Rock, who is setting the pace on the Australian General Sires List with progeny earnings in excess of $7million.