When a nick between two high profile sires delivers two Group I winners from just five runners it’s probably time to have a closer look at why it’s been successful and how it can be repeated.
Gytrash was an unexpected Group I winner of the VRC Lightning Stakes on Saturday at Flemington, but from a pedigree perspective he’s an interesting one as he’s bred on the same Lope de Vega (IRE) x Fastnet Rock cross as Santa Ana Lane, another brilliant sprinter and five time Group I winner.
There have only been five runners bred this way and three are winners, but there is no further opportunity to repeat this direct mating here in Australia as Lope de Vega no longer shuttles.
He is however very much available to Northern Hemisphere breeders at Ballylinch Stud in Ireland where he commands a fee of 100,000 euros and it will be interesting to see if he gets many NH bred daughters of Fastnet Rock in the wake of current events.
Fastnet Rock has long been proven to have a good affinity with mares carrying the blood of Storm Cat, who is from the same female family as his dam sire Royal Academy, a son of influential producer Crimson Saint, who is also the grand-dam of Storm Cat.
This nick has produced 23 stakes-winners from 409 starters so has a 5.6% stakes-winner to runner rate.
The five Group I winners bred this way are previously mentioned Gytrash and Santa Ana Lane as well as Foxwedge, Irish Lights and Awesome Planet.
When we get a bit more specific and look at Fastnet Rock with Storm Cat’s most successful son Giant’s Causeway (grand-sire of Lope de Vega) , the strike rate improves to 8% stakes-winners to runners and retains three of those five Group I winners.
Fastnet Rock is extending his influence as a broodmare sire with Gytrash his third Group I winner joining Santa Ana Lane and Tivaci among 23 stakes-winners in total.
Fasthet Rock is currently fifth on the leading Australian Broodmare Sires List by earnings and at age 18, he is the youngest sire in the Top 10.
Nicks That Click – That’s No Coincidence
Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Three heats won by juveniles at Randwick on Thursday morning and two of those winners were unraced fillies by Home Affairs and Farnan with a half-sister to the latter being sold at Magic Millions on Tuesday and might just be a saleyard gift!
Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Announced for 2026
The Awards formerly known as the Stud and Stable Staff Awards will enter a new chapter in 2026, with a refreshed name, the Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ATIEA), and an expanded industry partnership to further strengthen the recognition and celebration of the people who underpin Australia's world-class racing and breeding sector.
People at Magic Millions - Day Three
Day Three at Magic Millions and Maree wasn’t finding it difficult to find the love for Frankel, while there’s a great story about a $250,000 sale from a $6,000 service fee with Ben Lucas.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday January 14
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.6million Snitzel Filly Stars at MM Day 3
The latest yearling from Arrowfield Stud's grand producer Madame Andree topped Day Three of selling at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Thursday.
$1.6Million for Sister to Caffe Florian
Three year-old Snitzel filly Caffe Florian has been one of the finds of the summer in Sydney reeling off three successive wins culminating with a Black Type success in the Listed Gosford Guineas and her full sister lit up the Magic Millions sale ring on Thursday selling for $1.6million.
People at Magic Millions Day Two
New records, famous families, emotions, hungry horses, farm favourites and Baby Amy - it was all happening on Day Two at Magic Millions as Maree McEwan found out on her travels.
$1.1million Frankel Colt Sold by Newgate
Juddmonte Farms based champion sire Frankel has exerted a powerful presence on the Magic Millions this year and had a second million dollar yearling on Thursday when the Newgate Farm consigned colt from Miss Alacrity (USA) sold for $1.1million.
Superstars at the Randwick Trials
Busy set of trials on Thursday morning with a big bearing on autumn feature races so let’s have a look at what unfolded – were you happy with your favourite?
Star Colt and Star Filly Highlight Snitzel Day at Magic Millions
It was Snitzel day at the Magic Millions on Thursday with Arrowfield Stud’s much missed champion sire, who died last year, producing the top selling filly and colt of the day.