16th Group One Winner for Fastnet

High class mare Driefontein (4m Fastnet Rock x Follow Gold by Export Gold) provided her connections with another huge thrill when taking out the Group I SAJC Robert Sangster Classic at Morphettville in Adelaide on Saturday. The Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner in 2012, the Gai Waterhouse prepared mare has trained on in admirable fashion as a four year-old and put the writing on the wall with a last start win over dual Group I winner Platelet in the Group III SAJC Irwin Stakes at the same venue. Set alight early from a wide gate by Vlad Duric, Driefontein sped across to lead and ran her rivals ragged, dashing away in the straight to beat Platelet again in taking the 1200 metre sprint by a length and a quarter. “She races well like that and that and relaxed in the run,” said stable representative Roger Elliott, who added she was likely to be back in two weeks time for the Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap. It was the first win at the elite level for Driefontein, who has the overall record now of eight wins and five placings from 24 starts with prizemoney topping $2.1 million. SAJC club doctor Dr Terry Hodgson is a part-owner and was one of a crowd of purple and white starred owners in attendance. “One of the best days of my life!” he declared. Driefontein was bred by Bylong Park Thoroughbreds and sold at Magic Millions through the Widden Stud draft for $75,000 to Star Thoroughbreds. She is one of five winners for slick stakes-winner Follow Gold, a sister to another speedy juvenile stakes-winner in Export Gold. Follow Gold was one of 212 mares covered in Australia last spring by champion sire Fastnet Rock. She is the 16th Group I winner for Fastnet Rock, who has had 13 individual Australian stakes-winners this season.