Champion sire Fastnet Rock was in hot form in New Zealand on Saturday with a stakes-winning double at Pukekohe where exciting two year-old Unition won the Listed Fasttrack Insurance 5K Bonus 2YO Stakes (1100m) followed by rugged stayer In A Twinkling taking out the Group III Ssangyong Counties Cup (2100m).
Sporting the tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing, In A Twinkling and Bosson dictated play from the moment they left the gates.
Allowed some soft sectionals throughout the middle stages, Bosson upped the tempo on the Fastnet Rock four-year-old with 600m to run and immediately had his nearest challengers struggling to respond.
Maintaining a strong gallop to the line, In A Twinkling registered his third career victory at his 17th start when surging to the line to win by more than a length.
Trainer Jamie Richards was delighted with the victory by a horse who had taken time to deliver on his three-year-old form which saw him finish runner-up in the Group I New Zealand Derby (2400m) while also placing fifth in the Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m).
“He’s got really good form as a three-year-old although sometimes you question how genuine he is,” Richards said.
“In front, rolling along and setting his own tempo is probably the way to ride him.
“He’s had a bit of a frustrating run of seconds and been unlucky here and there so this is really good for the team.
“He had very good form in Australia so he is a fair horse but you wouldn’t play cards with him.
“We’ll take him home now and set him for the Waikato Cup (Group III 2400m) as he does have a future as a stayer with some nice races coming up.”
Purchased out of the Curraghmore draft at the 2017 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $250,000 by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis, In A Twinkling is raced by the Te Akau Fastnet Moment syndicate and holds a nomination for the Group III NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January along with the Group I Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March.
Foaled and raised in Australia at Coolmore, In a Twinkling is a half-brother to stakes-winner I’m Incredible from multiple Group III winner Moment in Time, a tough and talented stayer that won up to 2800m.
Henley Park sold the full brother to In a Twinkling at Karaka Book 1 this year for $250,000 to Lindsay Park Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock
Moment in Time has foaled this spring producing a filly by Fastnet Rock.
In a Twinkling the 153rd stakes-winner for champion sire Fastnet Rock, whose 152nd came earlier in the day with Unition, Read about him here.
Two New Stakes-Winners for Fastnet Rock
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Race Result - Ssangyong Counties Cup Gr3 2100m
Pukekohe Park Track: Good(3) Time: 2:09.69
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 57
Seller: Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone
Buyer:
Seller: Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains
Buyer: Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA)
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: M T Coleman 57.5
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 53.5
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: J K Riddell 56.5
Tnr: A D Fuller Rdr: V A Colgan 58
Tnr: A J Morley Rdr: C Dell 59
Tnr: F T Ritchie Rdr: J L Waddell 57.5
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: C J Grylls 60
Tnr: Ms C Cameron Rdr: A J Calder 55
Tnr: D & E Haworth Rdr: R J Myers 56.5
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: S T Collett 57
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: T Yanagida 54
Tnr: C Gibbs & M Bradley Rdr: S C Spratt 54
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: L G Innes 58.5
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