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
Advertisment
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
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
More Reading...
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.
Superb Quality in Magic Millions Digital Sale - Bidding Open
A great mix of lots from Group winners to impeccably bred unraced prospects and broodmares with foals at foot feature in the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale (2-7 Jan) with the catalogue online and bidding open.
Super Seth Filly Back to Best in G2 Levin Classic
All eyes and money were on Argo prior to the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m), with the world’s leading jockey James McDonald aboard the gelding, but it was La Dorada who scored top honours when returning to her brilliant best in the Trentham feature on Saturday.
Khanshe Wins G3 Phar Lap Trophy
Rider Matt Cameron’s love affair with one of the feature mile races at Trentham each year came to the fore once again when he guided consistent performer Khanshe to a stunning victory in the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) on Saturday.
$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).
New G1 Almanzor - First Five Wins G1 Telegraph
Te Rapa visitor First Five delivered on his enormous potential when he gave trainer David Greene his first Group One success when taking out the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham.
Blue Diamond Awaits Unbeaten Tagaloa Filly Moana Spirit
Recording a two length debut victory at Morphettville in early December, Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s 2yo Tagaloa filly Moana Spirit continued on her winning ways, scoring on Saturday in the $150,000 Geelong Diamond (1000m) for Yulong, and will now be aimed towards the G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes.
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.
One Bold Cat on Track for G3 Wellington Cup
Robbie Patterson is fizzing to get to the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with his Group One winner One Bold Cat later this month.
Magic Millions 2YO Next for Sword of State Colt - Half-Brother Inglis Premier
The rollercoaster ride of racing has been playing out for popular trainer Bjorn Baker in recent weeks with his glamour colt Paradoxium ruled out of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic due to illness, but stepping up to fill the void has been Sword of State colt Warwoven.