Fastnet Filly Wins Blue Sapphire

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday October 18
The $350,000 Group III MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield on Wednesday drew a strong field of three year-old sprinters with powerhouse Fastnet Rock filly Formality proving too good for Snitzel colt Jukebox.



Prepared by the Hayes / Dabernig training partnership, Formality was a brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes and Furious Stakes in Sydney at her first two runs back from a spell before an unplaced effort in the Group I ATC Golden Rose.

Winning rider Kerrin McEvoy blamed himself for her defeat in the Golden Rose, but put things right for this assignment.

Formality - images Grant CourtneyShe travelled forward to sit in second place and zoomed to the line, holding off a challenge from Jukebox to win the 1200 metre sprint by a long neck.

"I didn't give her a great ride in the Golden Rose … and she is probably just a sprinting filly," McEvoy said.

"She was back in trip here and she is a very strong girl.

"Crown Witness just rolled along and I was happy, it was just a matter of pressing the button and we did that at the 300m and it was game over.

"She had a lovely run and she showed a good turn of foot they couldn't get near her."

Formality was a modest $120,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft by Inglis as agent and runs for Coolmore and partners for whom she has won five of nine starts earning nearly $800,000 in prizemoney.

She will take on the colts again in next month's Group I VRC Coolmore Stud at Flemington on Derby Day.

Bred by Dr K Tan and foaled and raised at Coolmore, Formality is the best of four winners from four foals to race from 2009 Singapore Horse of the Year, Jolie's Shinju (Jpn), a daughter of the Halo sire Jolie's Halo.

A two year-old full brother to Formality will be offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale as Lot 174 and he's going to be popular after breezing earlier this week in 10.43 seconds.

Jolie's Shinju has foaled this spring producing a filly by Choisir.

Fastnet Rock also had an impressive maiden winner at Canterbury for the Chris Waller stable with Unforgotten winning in the style of a filly headed for stakes company - read about here here.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.