With seven Australian winners, plus a New Zealand stakes-winner Sassy 'n' Smart, Smart Missile has acquitted himself well this season as has Fastnet Rock's other high profile young son Foxwedge, who has left 17 winners in both hemispheres including NZ stakes-winner Volpe Veloce.
The Champion First Season Sire in 2015, Hinchinbrook has powered ahead this year siring the winners of over $4million in prizemoney, while Queensland based Rothesay and Victorian based Stryker made for three sons of Fastnet Rock in the Top 10 Second Season sires.
Make no mistake, sons of Fastnet Rock are on the rise and Neville Murdoch ofLarneuk Stud in Victoria has decided to get on board with a well credentialed
candidate in Cluster, who was well received for the first time last spring
covering 68 mares.Described by Murdoch as "an absolutely gorgeous horse," Cluster is an eye-catching bay with Group I ability.
"He is just a magnificent type with great scope, strength and presence," Murdoch said.
"He is an extremely athletic horse with a great deal of quality."
Given his obvious appeal it's no wonder Murdoch elected to pay the additional fee to have Cluster included in the lucrative new VOBIS Sires program.
VOBIS Sires is an enhancement to Victoria's respected owner and breeder incentive scheme, VOBIS, and aims to encourage support of Victorian-based stallions and provide those that do invest in their progeny with the opportunity for lucrative returns.
The progeny of Victorian stallions nominated to VOBIS Sires will be eligible to compete in two exclusive races on the annual Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday, currently held in April at Caulfield:
A $1 million two-year-old race over 1200 metres to be run for the first time in April 2019; and a minimum $500,000 three-year-old race over 1600 metres to be run for the first time in April 2020.
A brilliant sprinter miler, Cluster scored a career best win in the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes over 1400 metres when producing his customary explosive finish to overpower two other brilliant Group winning Fastnet Rock performers in Bull Point and Ninth Legion.
Unfortunately for Cluster, he had only two more starts finishing a close up fifth in the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before being injured in the Group I VRC Darley Classic.
Priced at $6,600, Cluster is one of those horses whose ability exceeded his race record and as such represents a great opportunity for budget conscious breeders with his female pedigree another obvious big plus.
Cluster's first two dams are by champion Australian sires Last Tycoon (IRE) and Bletchingly, while his third dam I Like Diamonds won the Group I AJC Champagnes Stakes and is by Golden Slipper winning sire Baguette.
From a fast Australian family, bristling with stakes-winners, Cluster is true to his pedigree in type and performance.
"It is a great family chock-full of speed," Murdoch enthused.
"Danehill, Last Tycoon and Bletchingly are all great influences and he is a horse who looks ideal for the VOBIS schemes."
For further information contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706 and visit Larneuk Stud.
