Anaheim (Fastnet Rock)

Fastnet Stakes-Winner at Flemington

A second emergency for the Group I VRC Victoria Derby on Saturday, promising colt Anaheim (3c Fastnet Rock  x Asmahan, by Zabeel) gained consolation with a powerful win in the Listed VRC TCL TV Stakes at Flemington on Thursday. A Breednet ‘One to Watch’ when breaking his maiden at Benalla last month, Anaheim travelled strongly for Ben Melham and hit the line hard to win the 1800 metre event by a length, his second win from just six starts. Former Cambridge trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young were thrilled with the win, their first major success since transferring from New Zealand to Cranbourne. “Ben rode him a treat and settled him nicely,” said Natalie Young. “It was unfortunate to be an emergency for the Derby, but he’ll go to the paddock now for a month or so and we can go from there. “There are four more Derbies to come!” A $160,000 NZB Premier Yearling purchase from the Wellfield Lodge draft for Trent Busuttin, Anaheim is bred to be a Derby horse. Foaled and raised at Coolmore in Australia, he is second winner for winning Zabeel mare Asmahan, a daughter of Group I New Zealand Oaks winner She’s Country. He is the 104th stakes-winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock and is the fifth stakes-winner by his sire from a daughter of champion New Zealand sire Zabeel.