Group Double for Fastnet Rock

Tara Madgwick - Saturday September 1
A brilliant winner of the Group I ATC Australian Oaks in the autumn, exciting Fastnet Rock mare Unforgotten was a well backed favourite in the Group II ATC Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and showed her class with a powerful win in the weight-for-age test over 1600m.

Unforgotten wins the ChelmsfordA fast closing sixth in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes when resuming from a spell last month, the Chris Waller trained Unforgotten (image Steve Hart) was held up for a run at the top of the straight, but when angled into the clear by Hugh Bowman quickly asserted her superiority.

She hit top gear and shot clear to score a dominant length and a half win over last year's Victoria Derby winner Ace High indicating she will be a force in whatever races are selected for her this spring.

"She's pretty smart and put the writing on the wall when she won the Oaks," said Hugh Bowman.

"I wouldn't imagine she'd be beating Winx anytime soon, but there are plenty of nice races for her. Chris has lots of options to choose from."

A $360,000 NZB Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft for Chris Waller Racing, Unforgotten has won six of 11 starts earning over $1.2 million in prizemoney for her big team of Waller stable clients.

"She's very special," said Waller.

"If we didn't have Winx, I'd be looking at the Epsom and Cox Plate, but she won't be taking her on. The Caulfield Cup might be the race, we'll just have to see where she fits in."

Fastnet RockFoaled and raised at Coolmore, Unforgotten is a sister to stakes-placed Special Memories and is the third winner from Memories of You (IRE), a half-sister to dual Group I winner Matiara from an impressive European Black Type family.

Memories of You has a yearling colt by brilliant Group I winner No Nay Never (USA) and was covered last year by Champion 2YO Air Force Blue (USA).

Unforgotten made it a back to back Group race double for Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock, who also sired Comin' Through to win the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes. Read about him here.

Advertisment
More Reading...
West is Best - Outstanding Perth Magic Millions Yearling Catalogue Online
The cream of the Western Australian yearling crop has been assembled for the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and the quality packed catalogue is now online. 
Cool Archie Return Delayed
The highly anticipated return to the races for exciting colt Cool Archie has been put on ice with co-trainer Chris Munce revealing the colt has an issue.
2026 Magic Millions Order of Entry 2YO and 3YO Updated
Racing Queensland have today released order of entry updates for the rich $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17 with the top two juvenile contenders both by Too Darn Hot (GB).
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.
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.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia announces 2026 Next Crop Committee
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is pleased to announce the appointment of the 2026 Next Crop Committee, a national group of passionate and forward-thinking industry participants committed to supporting the next generation of Australia’s thoroughbred industry.
$1million Fastnet Rock Colt Chasing Karaka Million 3YO
Victorian trainer David Hayes will be in New Zealand later this week as he puts the finishing touches on three-year-old colt Conqueror ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
Godolphin Make Their Move
The first two days at Magic Millions were without a Godolphin purchase, but they moved swiftly in the first hour of trade on Friday to secure two fillies by Fastnet Rock and Snitzel for $600,000 each.
Vote for Your Favourite Foal of 2025
We thank everyone for their participation in this year’s Foal Gallery with an amazing selection of babies from all over Australia and New Zealand making it a real showcase for breeders big and small and the task of selecting just six for our audience to vote for is not an easy one.
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.