Group Two Quinella for Fastnet Rock

Closely related to Black Caviar and sired by the champion stallion Fastnet Rock, blue-blooded filly Scandiva (2f Fastnet Rock x Scandinavia, by Snippets) scored a determined win in the Group II ATC Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. The Anthony Cummings trained filly shook off maiden status last start with a brilliant win at Warwick Farm after two previous unplaced runs behind top juveniles Villa Verde, Overreach and Whittington. Her rapid progress continued on Saturday when she raced prominently throughout for Peter Robl and found the line strongly to hold off a late charge from Shahad (2f Fastnet Rock x Shamekha, by Secret Savings) to win the 1200 metre dash by a short head. “She’s a very nice filly that has improved at every start and will win even better races,” said Peter Robl. “There’s more improvement in her and there would need to be, but she has form around some of the better juveniles.” A homebred for Robert Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm, Scandiva is one of five winners from Group III winning Snippets mare Scandinavia, whose best offspring are headed by Group I winning sprinter Magnus and Group II winner Wilander, not mention unraced Helsinge, the dam of world champion Black Caviar and superstar colt All Too Hard. Scandiva has won two of four starts, earning more than $140,000 in prizemoney and is the 42^nd stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock, who has some 50 entries for the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.