Powerful Nick Produces Another Stakes-Winner

Champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock has had amazing success with daughters of legendary sire Galileo and we saw another good example in promising filly Monday (2f Fastnet Rock - Ballydoyle, by Galileo), who won the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown last weekend.

An encouraging fourth on debut earlier in the month, the daughter of Fastnet Rock appeared to appreciate the better ground in Saturday’s seven furlong contest.

Seamie Heffernan rode her to make most of the running, asking her to quicken after the two furlong market, with the bay keeping on well to win by three parts of a length.

Speaking after the race, her trainer Aidan O’Brien said, “We thought she was very nice the first day. She just found Punchestown a bit unusual around the bends. She had that run and the ground is lovely today.”

On future plans, he added, “She can step into a Group race fairly quick, I'd say. She probably learned a lot the first day and learned a good bit more today. The Boussac, Fillies Mile, and all those races will be open to her.”

A homebred for Coolmore, Monday is the first foal out of Ballydoyle (Galileo), who O’Brien trained to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac and Group II Debutante Stakes. Ballydoyle is a full-sister to multiple Group I winner Misty For Me, dam of Group I stars U S Navy Flag (War Front) and Roly Poly (War Front).

Monday is the 19th stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock bred from a daughter of Galileo, the powerful nick running at 73.8% winners to runners and 23.7% stakes-winners to runners!

Fastnet Rock stands at a fee of $165,000 in Australia this spring.