Group Two Winner for Fastnet Rock

Gelded late last year, blue blooded four year-old Deploy (4g Fastnet Rock x Crimson Reign) has been in hot form this year and delivered his first Black Type victory went taking out the Group II BRC Moreton Cup at Doomben on Saturday. Prepared by Gerald Ryan, Deploy was second when resuming  from a short spell in a Listed race at Scone last month and was cherry ripe for this 1200 metre sprint.

He produced a tenacious effort for Tim Clark to score a long neck win taking his overall record to six wins and six placings from 13 starts with prizemoney of $389,435.

The victory free ticket into next week's $1.5 million Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap, however, Deploy is no certainty to take his place. "At this stage he's a Group II winner and there's a lot of races that are suitable for him apart from the Stradbroke," Sterling Alexiou, representing trainer Gerald Ryan. "He's always shown super ability at home and he's come on in leaps and bounds his past two preparations. "For him to come to a Group II today and win is fantastic." Alexiou said the Group III BRC Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 24 shaped as a more likely next winter carnival goal for Deploy. A $450,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Torryburn Stud draft, Deploy runs for a syndicate that includes his breeder Torryburn Stud in whose colours he runs as well as Segenhoe Thoroughbreds and Stallion Racing. He is the best of four winners from Group III winning Red Ransom mare Crimson Reign, who is due to foal this spring to Pride of Dubai.

Deploy is the 118th stakes-winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock.