Yulong purchased two of the most expensive mares in the world last year paying 2.7million guineas for Via Sistina (by Fastnet Rock) at the Tattersalls Mares Sale and €4,025,000 for Place du Carrousel (by Lope De Vega) at Arqana and they ran the quinella in the $1million ATC Ranvet Stakes Gr1 (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday at their first appearance in Australia whilst yet another Fastnet Rock ran a gallant third in the same event.
VIA SISTINA
Already a Group 1 winning daughter of Fastnet Rock, Via Sistina was given to Chris Waller and Place du Carrousel, also a Group 1 winner by Lope de Vega, was sent to Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Both mares produced their best efforts with Via Sistina charging home from last under James McDonald to win by more than a length over Place du Carrousel with Fastnet Rock import Buckaroo (IRE) in third place ahead of the hometown favourite Think It Over.
“She’s got a big motor and dare I say it, I think she’ll improve off that,” said James McDonald.
Via Sistina won the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last July and then placed at her next three starts in Group 1 races in France and the UK, so is all class.
“I’m just a small cog in a wheel that’s all I am,” said Chris Waller.
“She’s a very good horse that has been well trained in her career and is lightly raced and was smartly purchased by Yulong.
“She’s been prepared in England by James Ferguson and her previous trainer George Boughey has given us insight as well so there has been a lot of people involved.”
Now favourite for the $5million Group 1 ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 13, Via Sistina is a fascinating horse as she is the original ugly duckling that grew into a swan.
Her original owners Stephen and Becky Hillen purchased her as a yearling for 5,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Sale and they were over the moon when she sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year fetching 2.7million guineas to be the second highest priced mare at the sale.
Via Sistina has the overall record of six wins and five placings from 14 starts and is the best of four winners from Nigh, an unraced half-sister by Galileo to dual Group 1 winning sprinter Kingsgate Native.
Later in the day, Fastnet Rock colt Corniche (3c Fastnet Rock x Montsegur (New Approach (IRE)) picked up third place in the Darby Munro Stakes LR 1200m for trainer James Cummings and jockey Tom Marquand.
Rosehill: Ranvet Stakes Gr1 2000m
1 Via Sistina (IRE) - 57(6m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Nigh (Galileo)
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald
2 Place du Carrousel (IRE) - 57(5m Lope De Vega x Traffic Jam (Duke Of Marmalade)
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry
3 Buckaroo (GB) - 59(5h Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Roheryn (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ryan Moore
Whilst also on the day Fastnet Rock had winners:
Hesket (5g ex Hard Rider) at Ascot and Hat Trick (4h ex No Tricks) at Tauranga NZ.
FASTNET ROCK has been a multiple champion sire and his time has come to an end in the breeding barn as he was infertile in the 2023 season.
FASTNET ROCK - Champion Sire
Only a handful of progeny by FASTNET ROCK are available.
Aware of his fertility issues and the brilliance of his progeny over his years at stud, we were keen to purchase one of his few colts available for sale this year.
We struck at the MAGIC MILLIONS when we purchased his son from the mare TANTALUS (by Savabeel).
Our Yearling Colt by FASTNET ROCK ex TANTALUS
Our COLT is now a Rare Gem!
He is a true “Wow Factor - Stallion Prospect” being trained by Ciaron Maher.
A Colossal COLT by Champion FASTNET ROCK (193 SW and 152 SP inc 47 Gr1 Wnrs) from TANTALUS (NZ) a Winning daughter of Champion Sire SAVABEEL.
Bred on an Unbelievably Successful Cross: 13 Runners: 11 Winners: 6 Stakes Horses.
Even Better for COLTS: 8 Runners: 7 Winners (87.5%): 4 Stakes Horses (50%)
Lot 275 - Fastnet Rock x Tantalus from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
One of only 24 yearling (13 COLTS) by FASTNET ROCK due to the sire’s infertility issues from this 2022 crop.
Keep an eye out for this colt
Rarity + Highest Quality. When Class & Quality Matter. 5% Shares $16,930 & ALL COSTS to 1/7/24.