Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock sired his 150th stakes-winner on Saturday when progressive three year-old Sherwood Forest won the Group III War Decree stakes at Riccarton in New Zealand.
Sherwood Forest been touted as a serious contender for the Group I Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in a fortnight and his admirers would have been well satisfied with his latest performance.
Settled well back by rider Troy Harris after missing away slightly at the jump, the Tony Pike-trained galloper was still spotting the leaders a conservative six lengths as the field approached the home bend.
Harris peeled Sherwood Forest to the centre of the track where a few huge bounds carried him to the front before he stalled off all challengers to win the one mile feature by a length.
Pike stable representative Dean Williams was delighted with the run as a final lead-up to the upcoming Group I challenge.
“It is fair to say I was a bit nervous when he was slow away,” Williams said.
“Troy got him some cover and then plenty of clear air and he was a touch too good for them.
“We are down here now; he is well and we know he loves the mile.”
TAB Bookmakers responded by tightening Sherwood Forest into an $8 second favourite for the 2000 Guineas.
A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Coolmore draft for New Zealand Bloodstock, Sherwood Forest has won two of six starts and was foaled and raised at Coolmore.
A full brother to stakes-winner Royal Ocean, he is from Chasing Mammon, a half-sister by Giant’s Causeqay to stakes-winner Zelsnitz from the family of dual Group I winner and leading sire Holy Roman Emperor.
Chasing Mammon has a yearling colt by Starspangledbanner and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Fastnet Rock’s champion son Merchant Navy.
150th SW for Champion sire Fastnet Rock
Advertisment
Race Result - War Decree Stakes Gr3 1600m
Riccarton Park Track: Dead(6) Time: 1:38.39
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: T N Harris 56.5
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 56.5
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S R Weatherley 54.5
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: C W Johnson 54.5
Tnr: K & I Taplin Rdr: J J Fawcett 54.5
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: A Comignaghi 54.5
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J D Laking 56.5
Tnr: K & A Tyler Rdr: C A Campbell 56.5
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S L Wynne 56.5
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: T R Moseley 54.5
Tnr: K & A Tyler Rdr: K Asano 54.5
Tnr: N F Ridley Rdr: L Callaway 54.5
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: Ms K Williams 54.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday February 28
Here is the full list of 108 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cream Rises in $1million Inglis Sprint
The $1million VRC Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday for Inglis graduates featured a highly competitive field of 15, but cream rose to the top when victory went to top class So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling.
Perfect Ten As Autumn Glow Wins Verry Elleegant Stakes
While we may be running out of superlatives to describe Autumn Glow, it’s now simply a matter of letting her performances on the track speak for themselves, and once again the daughter of The Autumn Sun was stunning, leading home a stable quinella in the $1m G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) to remain unbeaten.
$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).
Capitalist Sprinter Wins G3 Liverpool City Cup
Well-travelled Capitalist gelding King of Roseau is a quiet achiever for the Peter Snowden stable and has now won races in three states in the past 12 months capturing the $250,000 Group III ATC Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday.
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.
Deserving G1 as Tempted Secures Surround Stakes
Having always shown serious ability, Ciaron Maher’s 3yo Street Boss filly Tempted secured her first elite level victory, winning the $750,000 G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Verona Rose Wins G2 Guy Walter - G1 Next
The $300,000 Group II ATC Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field with Castelvecchio mare Verona Rose taking the prize over Group I winner Manaal.
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.
Observer Takes Second G1 With Australian Guineas Victory
Just 20 minutes after trainer Ciaron Maher won the G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) with Tempted, he added the G1 VRC Australian Guineas (1600m) with 3yo Ghaiyyath (IRE) colt Observer in what was surely a brilliant 20 minutes for breeder/owners Godolphin.