Stakes Success for Fastnet Rock on Champions Day in Ireland
Mark Smith - Sunday September 13
A two-year-old daughter of the great Fastnet Rock, Monday (USA), kicked off Champion Day at Leopardstown with a strong performance in the Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes to deny Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (IRE) a first stakes-winner with No Speak Alexander.
It looked to have been a stakes double for the Coolmore champion later in the day when everyone other than the man that matters most, the judge, thought Fastnet Rock’s dual Group 1 Prix de la Foret heroine One Master had edged the No Nay Never colt Wichita in the Group II Park Stakes at Doncaster.
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Fourth at Punchestown at her career debut just nine days previous, Monday (USA) went off a 12/1 chance under Seamie Heffernan.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly took control of the race shortly after the start and stayed on strongly to defeat No Speak Alexander (Shalaa) by three-quarter of a length with A Taad Moody (Awtaad) a further length and a quarter back in third.
O’Brien believes a Group 1 is not beyond Monday (USA).
“She just found Punchestown a bit unusual around the bends. She had that run and the ground is lovely today,” O’Brien told Irishracing.com.
“She's the first foal out of Ballydoyle. She can step into a group race fairly quick, I'd say.
“She probably learned a lot the first day and learned a good bit more today. I'd say she won't have any problem stepping up quick.
“The Boussac, Fillies Mile, all those races will be open to her.”
Monday is the first foal of Galileo’s Ballydoyle the Champion 2YO Filly in France in 2015, whose 3 wins included the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
Ballydoyle is a sister to the champion Misty For Me, a 4-time winner at the elite level in the Moyglare Stud Stakes Prix Marcel Boussac, Pretty Polly Stakes and Irish One Thousand Guineas.
She has carried her racetrack success to the breeding paddock producing the Champion 3YO Sprinter in Europe in 2018, US Navy Flag whose five wins included the Middle Park Stakes, Dewhurst Stakes and July Cup and now shuttles to Valachi Downs in New Zealand.
A son of War Front, US Navy Flag is a brother to triple Group 1 winner Roly Poly.
Monday advances Fastnet Rock’s total of stakes-winners to 159.
