Fastnet Fire Fabulous

Second up from a spell, Fastnet Fire (4 m Fastnet Rock - Dragon's Tail, by Galileo) produced a dominant win, at the venue of her previous best performance, in the Mitre 10 - Going The Extra Mile Maiden over 1600 metres on 8 December at Hastings.

In May, when having her second start, Fastnet Fire had made up many lengths when finishing runner-up to stable-mate Linchpin (Pins) at Hastings, and back in business as a stronger mare she followed a solid fresh up third with a well deserved victory at her fifth start.

In the words of commentator Thomas Wood: “Fastnet Fire stalked them, hunted them down, and raced away to take out the last (race) for the Te Akau Fastnet Fire Syndicate.”

The win capped a winning double on the programme for trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, and rider Michael McNab, who also guided Splurge (Savabeel) to victory.

It was another good ride by McNab, as the mile start is never easy on the course and Fastnet Fire drew out in barrier eleven. Patient in midfield before finding cover in seventh, he was able to improve at will inside the 600m, looked to be travelling best rounding the home turn, and got away to score easily by a length and a quarter.

The time of 1:37.7 was good for 1600 metres on a day not conducive to quick times.

“The form out of her first up run (at Avondale) was good, with the winner Seraphim coming out and running very well at Wellington, and she's an improving mare,” Richards said.

“We've always held her in high regard, we've all had to be patient and being by Fastnet Rock out of a Galileo mare she is bred to appreciate a bit of time.  She has always looked as though time would be her friend and now she is really starting to come together.

“I would like to thank the owners for their patience, and once again it was a lovely ride by Michael (McNab).

“Although caught a bit deep, she found a good rhythm and that was important because she is a staying filly in the making.”

Richards suggested that both winners on the day, Splurge and Fastnet Fire, were two horses that would keep improving throughout the summer.

Fastnet Fire was purchased by David Ellis for $300,000 at the 2014 National Yearling Sale, from the draft of Coolmore Stud, on the Gold Coast.

“She is a beautiful mare, with a great pedigree,” Ellis said.

“Having now won, she really is the type to keep going on with it and the owners have been very patient because she has required time to develop.”

Ellis also purchased her two-year-old brother earlier this year at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale.

“And he has grown into a beautiful colt,” he said.

Fastnet Fire was strapped by Wiremu Pinn.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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