Fastnet Rock's Bleu Roche Emerges the Strongest in Red Roses

Mark Smith - Thursday November 8

With just a win in a Sale maiden to her name, the lightly raced Fastnet Rock filly Bleu Roche added a few zeros to her value with a fighting win in the $200,000 Group III Red Roses Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Oaks day.

In a blanket finish with half a length covering the first six across the line, Tim Clark guided the Matt Laurie-trained Bleu Roche to a short-head win over Causeway Girl (Shamus Award) with Meryl (Epaulette) a nose back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)


A close-up fourth in the Group III Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley at her most recent start, Bleu Roche advances her record to 2 wins and a second from four starts with earnings of $149,750.

"She was probably a touch closer than she had been racing and it probably took her finish away slightly," Clark said.

"She got to the front and in the last 50m she was running on empty.

"She is a nice filly building a good record and Matt's done a great job with her."


Laurie said he was expecting a big run after Bleu Roche's latest effort.

"Her run the other day at Moonee Valley was enormous," Laurie said.

"I was a bit worried she had spent everything ten days ago but she's backed that up with a really great performance.

"A Group winning filly at her fourth start in her first prep, we've got a lot to look forward to."


A $230,000 purchase by her trainer out of the Newgate Farm draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Bleu Roche is the third foal of Esprit De Bleu (USA) an American stakes-winning daughter of the Valid Appeal stallion Littleexpectations.



A half-sister to stakes winner Rockin The Blues (Rockport Harbor) Esprit De Bleu (USA) was covered by Headwater last season having not been covered in 2015.

Bred by Love Racing, Bleu Roche becomes the 142nd stakes-winner for Coolmore Stud's, Fastnet Rock.







 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Nicks That Click – Looks Like This One Has Worked Again
This nick involving two champion sires is well proven and documented with a two year-old winner last Saturday appearing as the latest example.
Cosmic Vega Breaks Through in Kilmore Cup
A rapidly deteriorating track at Kilmore proved the winning formula for the Irish import Cosmic Vega (IRE) and visiting English rider Saffie Osborne to open their Australian accounts in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Kilmore Cup (1600m).
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
More G1 Success for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage
A Champion 2YO that won the Karaka Million in 2018, quality Fastnet Rock mare Avantage again showed her class at Trentham on Saturday when scoring a determined victory in the Group I JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) defeating Enzo’s Lad, who had won the previous two editions of the prestigious sprint.
G1 Pedigree Watch - Plus Up and Comers
The spring carnival might be over, but the G1 action is now in Perth and a Queenslander took the top prize and we are also looking at a few other stakes-winners that hold the promise of more to come.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Milestone for Fastnet Rock
Champion sire Fastnet Rock clocked up his 100th Graded stakes-winner at the weekend in the US when five year-old entire Desert Stone captured the Group II San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.