Fastnet Rock 3YO Wins G3 Carbine Club
Champion trainer Chris Waller has a new star on the rise in Straight Arron (3g Fastnet Rock x Imperial Lass, by Tavistock), who charged to victory in the Group III ATC Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Fastnet Rock gelding Straight Arron has been given plenty of time to mature winning his debut at Sandown on January 5, before returning to Sydney to finish second at Warwick Farm on March 23.
He hit the line hard on that occasion in a strong race and was sent out favourite for the Carbine Club despite the step up in distance and very heavy conditions.
Ridden quietly by James McDonald, Straight Arron unwound a big finish in the straight, zooming past his rivals to win running away by nearly three lengths in a most dominant display.
“He showed good acceleration and made it look easy. The owners have been happy for me to take my time with him and have been very patient,” said Chris Waller, who has not planned beyond today for Straight Arron.
“With horses like that we can keep raising the bar, so he has a really bright future and his pedigree would suggest he will get 2000m and further.”
James McDonald was also full of praise for Straight Arron.
“He got into a lovely rhythm and was able to glide up the hill… he’s a pretty good horse, I think he can measure up to some real big races during the winter if he goes that way. He just oozes quality,” McDonald said.
A $270,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Chris Waller Racing from the Torryburn Stud draft, Straight Arron runs in the Hermitage colours that have enjoyed so much Group I success with Waller trained horses such as The Autumn Sun, September Run and Egg Tart.
Bred by Torryburn Stud, Straight Arron has won two of three starts earning over $147,000 and has a pedigree that screams classic potential.
He is the first winner for talented Tavistock stayer Imperial Lass, who was second in the Group I BRC Queensland Oaks and is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I Australian Derby winner Tavago.
He is also closely related to this season’s stakes-winning 2YO Fastnet Rock filly Bright Blue Sky.
It’s the famed New Zealand My Tricia family that has produced countless Group I winners and two Australian Horse of the Year winners in Lonhro and Lankan Rupee.
Imperial Lass had a filly by Pierro last spring and was then covered by Wootton Bassett.
Straight Arron is the 185th stakes-winner worldwide for champion sire Fastnet Rock, who has 17 entries for Inglis Easter and you can see them here.