Two-time Australian champion sire Fastnet Rock, one of the most influential stallions of modern times, has been retired from stud duties, Coolmore Australia announced April 26.
The son of Danehill was retired to Coolmore's Australia base in 2005 after a successful career on the track under the tutelage of Paul Perry, for whom he won six starts, headed by victories in the 2005 Oakleigh Plate (G1) and Lightning Stakes (G1), leading him to be crowned Australia's champion 3-year-old colt and champion sprinter of 2004-05.
INternational Sire
Introduced to the market at a fee of AU$55,000, Fastnet Rock's fee rose to AU$275,000 in 2013, his highest advertised fee, having been crowned champion sire 2011-12.
His global reach was secured when he began shuttling to Coolmore's Irish base in 2010, a journey he would undertake for the next 11 seasons, standing his final year in Europe in 2021.
Globally, he is responsible for 193 stakes winners, headlined by 43 group 1 winners, including dual hemisphere top-flight winner Via Sistina and Merchant Navy, who followed up a 2017 Ascot Vale Stakes (G1) success with a triumph in the prestigious Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in 2018.
"Fastnet Rock has been a once-in-a-lifetime horse, and we are immensely grateful for the incredible journey he has taken us on. I hope he will enjoy a long and happy retirement here at Jerrys Plains," said Coolmore's Tom Magnier.
Enduring Legacy
While he may be retired from covering duties, his legacy will live on through his runners on the track, his active sire sons including fellow Coolmore-based sire Acrobat, and also his exploits as a broodmare sire.
His daughters have produced 113 stakes winners in total and these numbers are spearheaded by 12 group 1 winners including three-time elite-level winning filly Zougotcha and Northern Hemisphere-bred Warm Heart, winner of the 2023 Yorkshire Oaks (G1) and Prix Vermeille (G1), and this season's Golden Slipper (G1) winner Lady Of Camelot.
Such is the season he is having so far in Australia, Fastnet Rock is currently in pole position to land his first Australian champion broodmare sire title, sitting more than AU$5 million ahead of his closest rival, former barnmate Encosta de Lago.
"His son Acrobat was the fastest 2-year-old ever at Randwick over 1,000 meters and if his first foals are anything to go by, we'll be hearing a lot more about him in the future.
"His legacy will endure for generations to come, and we look forward to seeing his influence continue to shape the future of the sport," Magnier said.
