Tenth Group I Winner for Fastnet Rock

Red hot sire Fastnet Rock added a new Group I winner to his burgeoning tally of equine superstars when lightly raced three year-old filly Sea Siren (3f Fastnet Rock x Express a Smile, by Success Express) smashed older rivals to win the Group I BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday. The John O’Shea trained Sea Siren defeated high class filly Streama to win the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes at the start of the autumn and then finished second to that filly in the Group II ATC Surround Stakes. While Streama pressed on to win the Group I ATC Australian Oaks, Sea Siren was sent to the paddock with the aim of winning the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane during the winter, a plan that now looks a very good one indeed. Having her first run back from a break and taking on open company Group I sprinters for the first time, Sea Siren proved well and truly up to the task. She jumped well and travelled in second throughout for Jim Cassidy before skipping clear in the straight to defeat former Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast by a length and a quarter with another Group I winner in Beaded finishing third. She scorched over the 1200 metres in a slick 1:08.10, running faster time than Black Caviar did in winning last year and not far outside Takeover Target’s course record of 1:07.88. “What a training performance, she's come from restricted class in Sydney to take on Streama, and she was a Group 1 filly,” Cassidy said. “He (John O’Shea) set this filly for the Stradbroke instead of going through Sydney. “I was reading this morning there hasn't been a filly win this race for about 15 years. “I've had big wraps on her, this is only my third time on her today and John O'Shea said to me he's got the best filly in the yard. She's owned by my great mate which is even better.” A homebred for Keith Biggs, Sea Siren has won four races and placed twice from six starts and has won $460,730 in prizemoney. “It's a nice record,” John O'Shea said. “Every time I've asked her to do something she's really stepped up to the plate. “It's a credit to the sire, a credit to the family and a credit to the people that bred her.” Foaled and raised at Coolmore for her breeder, Sea Siren is a half-sister to Group II winner Lady Dehere, Group III winner Oratorio and stakes-winner Discorsi being one of seven winners from outstanding producer Express a Smile. Sea Siren is the tenth Group I winner for Fastnet Rock, who is currently leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings and stakes-winners. Fastnet Rock also had the runner-up in the Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide with five year-old geldingWe’re Gonna Rock (5g Fastnet Rock x Harrow, by Dehere) running the race of his life to finish second beaten just over a length by Black Caviar.