Stakes Double for Fastnet Rock

Red hot sire Fastnet Rock posted a stakes double at Warwick Farm on Saturday with Magic Millions winner Driefontein (2f Fastnet Rock x Follow Gold, by Export Price) taking the Listed ATC Widden Stakes and progressive three year-old filly Sea Siren (3f Fastnet Rock x Express a Smile, by Success Express) taking a quantum leap to bowl over the established stars to win the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes. With just three previous starts under her belt in restricted grade, Sea Siren was not seriously expected by punters to trouble the likes of Group I winner Streama, but the John O’Shea trained filly jumped well for Jim Cassidy and put herself straight into the race from the start. She travelled sweetly just off the lead and found plenty in the run home to hold off Streama and Hallowell Belle to win the 1200 metre sprint by a short neck. "We came here today very, very confident and Pumper rode her accordingly,” O’Shea’s stable foreman Bryce Heys said. "She’s a filly with a lot of quality and ability and that good residual fitness was a big plus.” A homebred for Keith Biggs, Sea Siren has won three races and placed once from four starts earning $$164,230 and is a half-sister to Group II winner Lady Dehere, Group III winner Oratorio and stakes-winner Discorsi being one of seven winners from outstanding producer Express a Smile. Sea Siren becomes the 25th stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock, who is currently leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings. Earlier in the day Fastnet Rock tasted success with Golden Slipper contender Driefontein. Fresh from a controversial protest win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, unbeaten filly Driefontein showed her true class when overcoming difficulty to win the Listed ATC Widden Stakes. The Gai Waterhouse trained daughter of Fastnet Rock was a tad slow to jump and then had to work hard to make up the leeway, but stuck grimly to her task up the straight, reeling in the leader Agueda to win the 1100 metre sprint by a head. "Things didn't go her way," Waterhouse said. "That's a silly little habit she has developed. "But I'll tell you something - she was really tenacious the way she finished the race. "She had every excuse to be beaten. She had to do a little bustle early and I thought the horse on the outside was going to swoop and get her - but she said no way Jose. "She dug really deep. She is such a good filly." Waterhouse said the Golden Slipper was the ultimate aim for Driefontein - but she wasn't sure where and when she would run between now and Slipper day. "I'll have a think," she said. "We all know where we're going don't we - she's got the prizemoney to be there - we'll just shoot the breeze and work it out from there." A $75,000 purchase for Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds from the Widden Stud draft, Driefontein has won four from four and has amassed prizemoney of $1,358,000. Like Group I VRC Oaks winner Mosheen, Driefontein was bred by Bylong Park Thoroughbreds and is one of five winners for slick stakes-winner Follow Gold, a sister to another speedy juvenile stakes-winner in Export G