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Champion Coolmore stallion lands his first broodmare sire title
Coolmore announced earlier this year that Fastnet Rock's covering days were over, but the champion stallion has proved that he is not finished as a force in sire awards.
The son of Danehill added another accolade to his glowing CV when he not only won the Australian Champion Broodmare Sire award, but set a new record in the process.
Products of Fastnet Rock's daughters won $37,011,762 on Australian tracks, which smashed the old mark of $32.5m set by Redoute's Choice last year.
A dual Australian Champion Sire, in 2011/12 and 2014/15, it was the first time he has won the broodmare award and snapped a run of eight seasons that saw either Encosta De Lago or Redoute's Choice win the award run the quinella in each of the past seven years.
Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier said the 23-year-old could be expected to be a force in the bloodstock world for many years to come even though his days in the breeding barn are over after 19 seasons.
"Fastnet Rock has been a hugely influential stallion, not only in Australia, but all around the world," Magnier said.
"As a broodmare sire he has produced 13 Group 1 winners in five different countries and his influence will continue to live on through his daughters for many years to come.
"He is getting better and better as a broodmare sire and this season alone has produced winners of the Golden Slipper, Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Thousand Guineas, George Ryder Stakes, Queen Of The Turf, Coolmore Classic and Robert Sangster Stakes."
Written Tycoon filly Lady Of Camelot was the banner product for Fastnet Rock mares in the past 12 months, banking more than $3.5m after a win in the Golden Slipper and second placing in the Blue Diamond.
He won four Group 1s with daughters of Zoustar, via Zougotcha (Coolmore Classic, Queen Of The Turf), Joliestar (Thousand Guineas) and Climbing Star (Sangster Stakes), while Grunt colt Veight won the George Ryder Stakes.
Fastnet Rock was also the leading broodmare sire by winners with his 2023/24 tally of 320 up significantly on last year's 276 and almost 100 more than his 2020/21 tally of 227.
The results have Coolmore excited about what's to come with Magnier pointing to the fact this year's Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale-topper was a filly by Wootton Bassett out of Fastnet Rock mare Avantage.
"At Coolmore were consider ourselves extremely lucky to have a number of Fastnet Rock mares which will continue to be bred to the best stallions," Magnier said.
"We have been particularly taken with the progeny of Wootton Bassett when paired with Fastnet Rock mares, highlighted by the $2,100,000 filly out of Avantage which sold to David Ellis to top the Magic Millions Sale in January.
"This is a cross we are very excited about."
Australian Champion Broodmare Sire 2023/24
Fastnet Rock $37,011,762
Encosta De Lago $31,608,286
Street Cry $26,456,193
O'Reilly $24,772,070
Redoute's Choice $22,998,258
Exceed And Excel $22,331,792
Lonhro $22,172,705
More Than Ready $21,588,649
Snitzel $20,631,782
Flying Spur $20,405,141