One to Watch – Pakenham

When a $1million Fastnet Rock colt comes out and wins by seven lengths, he’s an obvious choice as the ‘One to Watch’ on Tuesday.

Prepared by the Hayes Dabernig team from Lindsay Park, two year-old colt Conqueror was sent for a good spell after finishing second and fifth at his first two starts earlier this year in February.

Returning in the 1400 metre maiden at Pakenham on the synthetic track against older rivals, Conqueror was a short priced favourite and dished out a galloping lesson in bolting away to win by seven lengths.

He surged forward to lead and was always in control, cruising home under his own steam for Luke Nolen to the delight of co-trainer Ben Hayes.

"He ran to his odds,” Ben Hayes said.

"He was very impressive and did everything right. He’s a horse that we believe can be running in the big races in the spring like the Caulfield Guineas.

"He can be a bit lazy at home, but so was Dad’s best horse Better Loosen Up. He’s given us glimpses of brilliance and that’s what we saw today.”

A $1million Karaka Book One purchase from the Curraghmore draft for Mark Pilkington Management / Lindsay Park Racing, Conqueror runs for a syndicate that includes Coolmore in whose colours he runs and Sheikh Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum among others.

Conqueror was bred by China Horse Club and foaled and raised at Coolmore and is the first foal of Savabeel’s Group I winning mare Diademe, a full sister to Group I winner Embellish.

Diademe was bought by China Horse Club / Coolmore from the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $740,000 and then sent to Fastnet Rock with Conqueror the result of that mating.

She went back through the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2018 making $1.7 million and is now in Gerry Harvey’s broodmare band producing a filly by Vancouver last spring and is now in foal to Snitzel.

Fastnet Rock made it a winning juvenile double at Pakenham when the next race was won by another Hayes Dabernig trained colt in Memphis Rock.

Group III placed earlier in the season, Memphis Rock was long overdue to break his maiden and is a full brother to stakes-winners Ennis Hill and Lake Geneva from Group II winner Hips Don’t Lie.

Champion sire Fastnet Rock has had 15 Australian two year-old winners this season and stands at Coolmore at a fee of $165,000.