The well travelled Fastnet Rock six-year-old Coastwatch has a long range Group One Stradbroke plan after winning stakes race number four in the Evergreen Turf John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
After finding himself in the awkward position of taking the field up to leader Buffalo River, who put several lengths on the field in the middle stages, Coastwatch kicked strongly into the straight and held on gamely.
Ridden by Damian Lane, the Richard & Will Freedman trained gelding defeated Chorlton Lane (Mehmas) by a length with Buffalo River (Noble Mission) third.
The win takes his record to five wins, four seconds, and three thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $914,125.
Coastwatch was originally a $750,000 purchase for Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and joined the Chris Waller stable.
He i
nitially raced for an ownership group including Coolmore and partners regularly seen in stallion prospects, think Switzerland, Wodeton etc in recent times, however found himself a gelding after just five starts.
That did help with wins in the Group II Autumn Stakes and Group III Ming Dynasty as well as finishing third in the Group I Golden Rose however he was offered up on the Inglis May (Early) Online Sale in 2022, selling for $500,000 to A P Chan and shipped to Hong Kong in September of that year.
He didn’t fire a shot there however, returning in March 2023 and didn’t see a race track again until March 2024 in the care of Richard and Will Freedman..
He’s had 14 starts since, including a win in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone to go with Saturday’s victory.
“I was happy there was genuine speed. He gets better as he gets deeper into his prep,” said Will Freedman.
“He gave a good kick at the 300 and put them away.”
“The race that I’ve earmarked, because he’s quite a good handicap horse is getting him ready for the Stradbroke.”
Coastwatch is a half-brother to Group I Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss and one of seven winners for Encosta de Lago mare Bullion Mansion, a daughter of Group I Australasian oaks winner La Volta.
He has a yearling half-brother by So You Think listed at Inglis Easter as 311 with Coolmore Stud.
Bullion Mansion was served by Home Affairs last season however is now listed as retired.
