International Winner For Air Force Blue
It was a 16th winner for Air Force Blue on Friday when Flying Rock (2f Air Force Blue x Cry Me A River, by Danehill Dancer) broke her maiden at Dundalk in Ireland.
Racing over seven furlongs on the all weather track against the boys, Flying Rock raced along the rail in midpack with Andrew Slattery aboard. With just a few furlongs to run, the Fozzy Stack-trained filly took advantage of the gap on the rail opening as they turned into the straight for the final run. Clear on the inside, Flying Rock took over the lead in the final furlong and started pulling away in the final stage for a 1½ length win.
Owned by Michael O’Flynn, Flying Rock was a €105,000 purchase by Rockfield Stud and Cormac McCormack at the 2019 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale from the Glenvale Stud consignment.
The Lynch Bages-bred is the first foal out of a Danehill Dancer half-sister to multiple stakes winner Skiddaw Peak and the dam of Grade I-placed The Irish Rover. Hailing from a strong international family, the filly also has French classic winner Landseer, Japanese Grade I winner Mikki Rocket, and Irish champion I Can Fly on her page.
A European Champion 2-Year-Old himself, Air Force Blue sits third by winners among this year’s freshmen sires with his runners also including two stakes performers.