Fastnet Rock Sires Quickfire Maiden Double At Galway

Fastnet Rock kicked off the weekend with a quickfire double at the Galway Festival, where the talented Buckaroo (2c Fastnet Rock - Roheryn, by Galileo) landed the opening maiden for Joseph O’Brien.

A promising third on debut earlier this month, the Qatar Racing-owned bay was sent off favourite for the extended mile contest and raced close to the pace throughout under Declan McDonogh. Producing a challenge at the two furlong marker, he was ridden to lead inside the final furlong and kept on well to deny Stone Age (Galileo) by a neck on the line. The front pair drew six lengths clear of the field.

Speaking after the race, assistant trainer Brendan Powell said, “Buckaroo might go for the Beresford Stakes. He's a massive horse and can only get better. He has a big future.”

The following race, a maiden over the same trip for three-year-olds and upwards, saw Ballylinch Stud homebred Sherkin Island (3f Fastnet Rock - Galvaun, by Galileo) build on a promising debut to justify favouritism under Colin Keane.

A close third in a ten furlong Curragh maiden in May, Dermot Weld’s charge appeared to appreciate racing more prominently on Saturday and went clear approaching the final furlong. Pushed out, she scored by two and a half lengths in comfortable fashion.

There is plenty more to come from the winner, with her trainer saying, “Sherkin Island did it nicely and has progressed nicely but she is still very immature. The best of this filly will not be seen until next year.”