Randwick Double for Fastnet Rock
Champion sire Fastnet Rock enjoyed a winning double at Randwick on Saturday with a pair of progressive four year-olds in Via Napoli and Deploy.
Bred and retained to race by Fairway Thoroughbreds, Via Napoli (4m Fastnet Rock x Celebria, by Peintre Celebre) is racing in career best form and made it back to back metropolitan wins.
Prepared by Chris Waller, Via Napoli (pictured) led all the way under a well rated ride from Jason Collett to win the 1600 metre mares contest by a length and a quarter.
A late maturing type, Via Napoli has been given time to develop and her best form is undoubtedly ahead of her.
She has three wins and four placings from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $178,000 and is certainly bred to be above average as a sibling to Group I winner Gathering and Group III winner Florentina.
She is the fifth winner from six to race for Celebria, a half-sister by Peintre Celebre (USA) to Group III winner Murjana from the family of Group I stars Redoute’s Choice, Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, Manhattan Rain, etc.
Gelded before this preparation, blue blooded Deploy (4g Fastnet Rock x Crimson Reign, by Red Ransom) went on his winning way when racking up his third straight win with a tenacious victory.
Prepared by Gerald Ryan, Deploy had good form around Group and stakes winners last season at three such as Le Romain, Southern Legend and Sooboog, so has always had the talent and has now found the conviction required to win races
He surged late to score a short half head in the Benchmark 84 event over 1200 metres.
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.
With four wins and five placings from 10 starts and prizemoney topping $190,000, Deploy has always been consistent and could easily step up to stakes level this year.
He is one of three winners from four foals to race from Group III winning Red Ransom (USA) mare Crimson Reign, who was covered by Pride of Dubai last year.