Horse Racing Randwick Sydney Championships Day 2

    Fastnet Rock and his sons had a stellar weekend on Australian racetracks but the biggest shining star of them all, was a mare, who was foaled on the 11th September 2011. The pairing of Vegas Showgirl and Street Cry produced a legend by the name of Winx. She was the big draw card at Randwick on saturday and never let the crowd of 27000 down as she cruised to her 17th straight win in the group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This gave her a 12th group 1. Her old sparring mate Hartnell, finished a gallant second as he tried putting it to Winx rounding the turn. Hartnell's trainer, John Oshea, has revealed their strategy for Hartnell later this year, is to avoid Winx,at all cost during the spring carnival. Connections are considering a Hong Kong trip in November and hopefully he might be able to pick up another group one. Winx is now heading to the spelling paddock. An interesting study was taken out during the week to see why Winx is so fast and it revealed her stride is the key, it becomes shorter but more frequent, when she lets down.
      Next up was the Sydney Cup and after the elation of a breathtaking win of Winx all patrons on course were left stunned, when Almoonquith broke down passing the winning post the first time and Who Shot the Barman couldnt avoid the broken down stayer and crashed over him. Both Jockeys were a bit shaken but Almoonquith had to be put down. Just shows, how the racing game can change in an instant. It was just one of those freak things as the horses had only travelled about 600 metres into the race and were at a leisurely pace when the incident occurred. The stewards had to make a swift decision and rightfully, called the race off for safety reasons as they couldnt remove the fallen horse .

Winx Queen Elizabeth Stakes 

    The Australian Oaks was won by the New Zealand filly Bonneval and dominant win it was.The Makfi filly is out of the Zabeel mare Imposingly . Her rider, Hugh Bowman gave the mare a big wrap early in the week after a track gallop . Stating she is very impressive and will be hard to beat on saturday. The Murray Baker trained galloper finished very strongly down the middle of the track like most of them did on saturday and looks a future star in the spring.

    Makfi at Westbury Stud New Zealand

      In the Percy Sykes Stakes we saw the two Fastnet Rock fillies rise to the top of the prize pudding with the unbeaten Shoals and Formality ridden by Craig Williams battling out the finish. Craig was quizzed by the stewards over not using the whip on Formality. His explaination was she was doing her best under hands and heels riding and if the whip was used it may have been detrimental. Big tick for Craigs riding here . I would have to agree on seeing the footage. Shoals is out of a Hussonet broodmare from that great Shanthas Choice family. Regally bred ! 

      Derryn backed up after last weeks performance against the mighty Chautauqua, to win the Arrowfield Sprint. Derryn is by Hinchinbrook. A Fastnet Rock stallion standing at Yarraman Park Stud , Scone. Hinchinbrook is from that awesome Snippets Lass family. The mum of the brilliant sprinter and stallion Snitzel. Later in the day we saw another of Fastnets stallion sons produce the winner of the Group 1 Queen of the Turf with that genuine filly Foxplay or mini Winx as the Waller camp call her. She is by Foxwedge who stands at Newgate Farm .

Hinchinbrook 

    Interstate racing we saw the Goodwood Prelude at Morphetville , which was won by Fastnet Latina. He kept his unbeaten Australian record intact, since arriving from the states, making it four from four. His trainer Archie Alexander is planning one more start this preparation for the Fastnet Rock four year old before putting him away until the spring. After being foaled in Ireland he was purchased by USA interests and raced there before breaking down with a tendon injury. He was bought and transported for treatment in Australia for his injury and now a promising career looks possible for the colt. Desert Lashes a Reward For Effort filly won the SA Oaks prelude race. While in Melbourne a big effort from Ken's Dream gave him victory in the Selangor Turf Club Stakes at Caulfield. After missing the start the Weir trained , Yendal ridden horse weaved his way through traffic to score right on the line ! 

  

    Flashback
Fastnet Rock beats Alinghi in the Lightning Stakes 

International News  

• Rapper Dragon by the Street Cry stallion, Street Boss won the Group one Chairmans Trophy in Hong Kong . While Mr Stunning won the group one Sprint Cup. Mr Stunning is by Exceed and Excel .  

• Aintree the Grand National was won by the Scottish horse One For Arthur and for the fifth year in a row the race ended with no equine mortalities. 

• While in Chantilly France saw the Redoutes Choice colt Good Luck give the stallion his first Northern Hemisphere Group 3 success. 

Street Boss stands at Darley