At age 15, Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock is at the height of his powers.
He is proven as the sire of 105 stakes-winners worldwide, proven as a sire of
sires through quality young stallions such as Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge and Smart Missile
and his reputation as a broodmare sire is quietly building and gathering
momentum.Information regarding what works for Fastnet Rock as a stallion, can easily be applied to his sons and the offspring of his daughters which is particularly relevant given we see 27 yearlings entered in MM from mares by Fastnet Rock, 15 for Inglis Classic and 24 for Inglis Premier.
The number one match for Fastnet Rock has been daughters of Coolmore's champion European sire Galileo, the direct cross producing 73.8% winners to runners with 31 winners from 42 runners including 10 stakes-winners headed by four Group I winners – Rivet, Intricately, Qualify and Magicool.
Fastnet Rock has also done well with Galileo's sire Sadler's Wells to produce seven stakes-winners, although the winner to runner rate is back a touch at 60% with 45 winners from 75 runners.
Fastnet Rock has also shown an affinity with another of the great Northern Dancer sons in Nureyev, (a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Sadler's Wells) who appears in the pedigrees of stallions such as Zabeel, Stravinsky (USA) and Peintre Celebre (USA), who have all achieved notable success with Fastnet Rock.
Running a 5 x 5 nicks report through Arion for Fastnet Rock with Nureyev shows us there are 55.5% winners to runners with 176 winners from 317 runners highlighted by 22 stakes-winners – 10 of them Group I winners.
Running the same report for Fastnet Rock with another legendary Northern Dancer son in Storm Cat reveals 57.8% winners to runners with 74 winners from 128 runners highlighted by 10 stakes-winners, three of them Group I winners.
Australian bred stallion Snippets has also been a great match for Fastnet Rock, the direct cross producing 69.6% winners to runners with 16 winners from 23 runners highlighted by four stakes-winners, all Group winners headed by Group I winner Wanted and leading young sire Hinchinbrook.
In the world of commercial thoroughbred breeding where the production of Group I winners is akin to striking gold, these are telling statistics.
The double Danehill cross involving Fastnet Rock has produced two minor Listed stakes-winners to date in Pearl Star and Eagle Island with six stakes-placed performers and runs at 41.3% winners to runners with 71 winners from 172 starters.
