Fastnet Finishes 2011 With a Bang

Fastnet Rock was in hot form on New Year’s Eve with a new stakes-winner in Magic Millions favourite Driefontein (2f Fastnet Rock x Follow Gold, Export Price) and a metropolitan double at Rosehill courtesy of Cindarockinrella (3f Fastnet Rock x Call Me Pretty, by Peaks and Valleys) and New Day Rising (5g Fastnet Rock x Visual Emotion, by Silver Deputy). Driefontein shot to the top of the market for next month's $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic after an impressive all the way win in the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes over 1200 metres at Doomben. In making it two wins from as many starts for the powerful Gai Waterhouse stable, Driefontein emerged as one of the big contenders for Queensland's richest event. She flew the gates for Tommy Berry and led throughout to beat classy colt Sizzling by a length and a half. "She won the race in the first 100 metres today when she began so brilliantly," Berry told AAP. "She wanted to stargaze a bit towards the line too, but that's just her lack of experience and she could have won by further. "She doesn't have to lead to win but when they go as fast as she does I'd rather be in front in the Millions than travelling behind green horses." The win was celebrated by Sydney based syndicator Denise Martin, who through her Star Thoroughbreds operation purchased the outstanding youngster for $75,000 at January's Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud. "I've had so much success buying from Magic Millions - all of my top Group One horses were purchased from the Gold Coast," Martin said. "The sale is just so much fun each January - the atmosphere is fantastic and the horses are of great quality - I'm looking forward to the sale again in the new year. "Driefontein is a wonderful youngster and I can't wait for her to run in the Magic Millions Classic in a couple of weeks. "Her syndicate is made up of both new and existing clients - there is an owner who was in Theseo - there's another one who's overseas and they are from around the country." Driefontein is the 24th stakes-winner for sire sensation Fastnet Rock and was bred by Bylong Park Thoroughbreds, who have already tasted success with Fastnet Rock having bred his Group I VRC Oaks winner Mosheen. She is the fifth runner and winner for the stakes winning Export Price mare Follow Gold, a full sister to Export Gold, the stakes winning dam of Singapore star Forest Gold. The Tim Martin trained Cindarockinrella burst back to top form with a strong win over 1200 metres at Rosehill, her third victory from nine starts with prizemoney of $205,200. “It was a very good effort. Barriers win races and she had a good barrier and a good ride,” Martin said. “Wet tracks have been the problem for her this preparation, so we’ve been waiting for the dry track and she got that today.” Cindarockinrella was bought by Colm Santry Bloodstock for a modest $35,000 from the Eliza Park draft at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is the second winner from Call Me Pretty (USA), a half-sister by Peaks and Valleys to stakes-winner Warrior Queen, the dam of Group II winner AP Warrior from the family of champion sire Storm Bird. Stakes-placed last season at two, Cindarockinrella is a full sister to smart stakes-winner Born to Rock, so will be a valuable broodmare one day for her lucky owners who include Peter O’Brien and Colm Santry of Coolmore Stud. Making it a Rosehill double for Fastnet Rock was the Gary Portelli trained gelding New Day Rising, who took the open event over 1400 metres by a length and three-quarters, his overall record now four wins and five placings from 17 starts with prizemoney in excess of $250,000. Bred by Gooree Stud, he was on-sold privately as an older horse and is a half-brother to Group III winner Swift Alliance from the good producer Visual Emotion (USA).