Burgeoning success for champion sire Fastnet Rock as a dominant sire of sires has been highlighted in recent weeks on the Australian First Season Sires List which is topped respectively on the score of earnings and winners by his star sons Hinchinbrook and Rothesay.
With progeny earnings topping $1million and a Group I winner in Press Statement on the resume, Hunter Valley based Hinchinbrook is the Champion First Season Sire elect for 2014/2015, while Queensland based Rothesay has put an impressive 13 winners on the board.
Another promising Fastnet Rock son in Victorian based Stryker also holds down a Top 10 position on the First Season Sires List with five winners headed by the stakes-winner Strykum, his encouraging results adding further impetus to the rise of Fastnet Rock as a sire of sires.
We won't have long to wait for the next sire sons of Fastnet Rock to make their presence felt with his Group I winner Foxwedge and brilliant Group II winner Smart Missile poised for action with their first two year-olds being readied to race in the spring.
Off a $33,000 service fee, Foxwedge has 123 rising two year-olds, 57 of them entered for the Golden Slipper, while Smart Missile has 151 rising two year-olds off a $22,000 fee, 78 of them nominated for the Slipper.
Make no mistake, sons of Fastnet Rock are on the rise and Neville Murdoch of Larneuk Stud in Victoria has decided to get on board.
Described by Murdoch as "an absolutely gorgeous horse," Cluster is an
eye-catching bay with Group I ability."He is a horse who we think will really appeal to Victorian breeders," Murdoch said.
"He is just a magnificent type with great scope, strength and presence."
"He is an extremely athletic horse with a great deal of quality."
On the racetrack, Cluster scored a career best win in the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes over 1400 metres when producing his customary explosive finish to overpower two other brilliant Group winning Fastnet Rock performers in Bull Point and Ninth Legion.
It was a win that earned the admiration of trainer Peter Snowden who admitted to concern during the run.
"To be back where he was with the second favourite outside of him making
sure he wasn't going to go anywhere - I was thinking I don't want to be here!,"
he said."But full credit to the horse. Once he got to the outside he showed what class he has really got. He has a massive amount of acceleration and we saw a bit of that."
Jockey Tim Clark was also impressed - "he has an awesome turn of foot - he is a real horse, he is Group I quality."
Unfortunately for Cluster, he had only two more starts finishing a close up fifth in the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before being injured in the Group I VRC Darley Classic.
Priced at $6,600, Cluster is one of those horses whose ability exceeded his race record and as such represents a great opportunity for budget conscious breeders with his female pedigree another obvious big plus.
Cluster's first two dams are by champion Australian sires Last Tycoon (IRE) and Bletchingly, while his third dam I Like Diamonds won the Group I AJC Champagnes Stakes and is by Golden Slipper winning sire Baguette.
From a fast Australian family, bristling with stakes-winners, Cluster is true to his pedigree in type and performance.
"It is a great family chock-full of speed," Murdoch enthused.
"Danehill, Last Tycoon and Bletchingly are all greatinfluences and he is a horse who looks ideal for the VOBIS schemes."
For further information contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706 and visit www.larneuk.com
