Royally Bred Royal Winner

The Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross is a formidable one and has produced this spring’s elite Group I winners Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) with another lightly raced import bred the same way opening his account at Kembla on Saturday carrying the colours of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Bred by The Queen, Gilded Water (GB) (4g Fastnet Rock x Fiery Sunset, by Galileo) was sent to Australia to join the stable of Ciaron Maher after four starts in the UK earlier this year that included a seven and a half length maiden win at Chepstow over 2000m.

He was having his first Australian start in the Benchmark 78 event over 2000m and was doing his best work late to snatch a half length win as favourite with Jason Collett on board.

The choice of Ciaron Maher as a trainer for Gilded Water was a good one as he also trains his older half-brother Circle of Fire (GB), who won the Group I ATC Sydney Cup earlier this year.

Gilded Water is also a half-brother to Group III winner Evening Sun and is the fourth winner from four foals to race from Fiery Sunset, a winning half-sister by Galileo to stakes-winner Upcountry from a hugely successful female family tracing back to celebrated matriarch Best in Show.

Lightly raced and talented with plenty of upside was the verdict from connections.

“Gilded Water is still lightly-raced and he tends to climb a bit in action so I just tried to keep him balanced.’’ said Jason Collett.

“I thought we had the whole straight to get there and this horse can stay. He was always going to run the 2000m right out.’’

His sire Fastnet Rock is now enjoying a well earned retirement at Coolmore Australia and his place on the roster has been taken by his promising young son Acrobat.