Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
The 6-year-old son of Zoffany (IRE) added the Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup, strolled home by four lengths in the $1.2 million Group II Q22 and battled it out under 60kgs to add Saturday’s $750,000 Group III Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
Ridden by Tyler Schiller for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Fawkner Park was there to be beaten at the 1000m but kept pulling more out to hold the finish of Wyclif (Archipenko) by a long-head, with Hinged (Worthy Cause) a short-neck back in third.
With his third stakes success, Fawkner Park advances his record to nine wins, a second, and two thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $1,761,202.
“I thought Tyler made a brave decision to make a move early in the race but he just summed it up that there was no speed on,” Rob Archibold said.
He got outside the leader and he was just strong late. It’s a big effort from everybody and I’m very pleased.
“He was probably just slightly feeling the pinch. He’s had an interrupted preparation and he was probably entitled to get a little bit tired late. Bennett Racing have never really lost the faith. While it didn’t always go to plan, they stuck solid and it’s been a big team effort behind the scenes to get him right. Our physio has done an amazing job. It’s a nice reward.”
A €46,000 Goffs Orby purchase for Joseph O’Brien, Fawkner Park (IRL) made three starts in Ireland, the last of which was a six-and-a-half length win over the Galileo x Atlantic Jewel colt Fleet Commander in a 10-furlong maiden win at Dundalk.
Consigned to the 2022 Autumn Horses In Training Sale, where Blandford Bloodstock / Bennett / Annabel Neasham Racing had the final say at 120,000gns.
Fawkner Park (IRL) is a half-brother to Saracen Knight (IRE) (Camelot), who enjoyed success in Australia in the Group II Herbert Power Stakes and Listed RM Ansett Classic.
His dam Za'Hara (Raven’s Pass) is a half-sister to Gr1 Arlington Million Stakes winner Debussy (Diesis), Group III Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner Laugh Aloud (Dubawi), and the stakes-placegetters Celtic Prince (Shamardal), Cantilena (Dubawi), and Entertainment (Halling).
