$850,000 Fastnet Rock Filly Bought by David Ellis

The highest priced lot on day two of the NZB Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale was a glorious Fastnet Rock filly from Memories of You (IRE) that made $850,000 when bought by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing.

Consigned by Curraghmore, the star filly is a full sister to Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten and stakes-placed Special Memories being from a half-sister by Galileo to French Group I winner Matiara.

David Ellis has had a great association with champion stallion Fastnet Rock, having bought and raced his Group I winners Rock N Pop, Heroic Valour, Age of Fire and Avantage, plus European Group I performer Torcedor.

He labelled this filly as the best he has seen at New Zealand Bloodstock’s sales venue in a decade.

“I have been coming and buying yearlings here since 1988 and definitely in the last five to 10 years I haven’t seen a filly of more quality or athleticism, and we were determined to buy her at any cost,” Ellis said.

“This is a stallion that leaves serious horses and this is one of the nicest fillies I have seen at Karaka in a long time.

“No one does a better job than Gordon Cunningham. He is a big supporter of Te Akau Racing and he is just a champion guy. His son Liam is a senior part of our stable and works in the colt barn looking after horses like Dynastic.

“We have had a great association with Coolmore. They bought Avantage for $4.1 million last year once she was retired from racing with nine Group One wins. They are very good friends of mine and great supporters of Te Akau Racing.”

Gordon Cunningham also sold Unforgotten as a yearling through the Karaka ring for $360,000 to Chris Waller Racing back in 2016 and was delighted to see the filly go to Ellis.

“The filly is equally as nice as Unforgotten. She has lots of similarities but a little bit more mature at the same stage,” he said.

“She was very popular from when inspections began in January and always presented like a top filly, much like her sister.

“I hope she will go on to be as successful and congratulations to Te Akau for securing a filly of the future.”

Memories of You was covered last spring by Triple Crown hero Justify.