Fastnet Rock, one of Australia's most influential stallions, has died at the age of 24.
Coolmore Australia, where the son of Danehill was born, raised, and later stood as a successful stallion, announced the news the morning of Sept. 8.
Coolmore's Tom Magnier said: "Sadly, earlier today our much-loved champion sire Fastnet Rock was humanely euthanized at Coolmore, his place of birth and home for the past 20 years. In that time, Fastnet Rock forged a legacy that will see him recognized as one of the greatest stallions Australia has ever produced.
"He suffered an injury over the weekend, which deteriorated rapidly and we did not want him to suffer. He was born and prepared as a yearling here at Coolmore and raced in the navy silks for Paul Perry and our ownership partners.
"Coolmore Australia would not be what it is today without Fastnet Rock and we owe him so much."
Bred by Linley Investments and partners, Fastnet Rock was out of group 3-winning juvenile Piccadilly Circus and, after being led out of the ring unsold at the 2003 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he was retained to race by the Magnier family's operation and their partners.
After a successful career on the track under the tutelage of 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 champion 3-year-old sprinter of 2004-05, the son of Danehill was retired to Coolmore's Australia base in 2005.
While his feats on the track were impressive, they were quickly eclipsed by his achievements in the breeding shed. Like his father, Fastnet Rock went on to be crowned Australia's champion sire on two occasions, first in 2011-12, then again in 2014-15. He was pensioned last year.
Magnier said: "Residing in the stallion barn for 20 years, he was the kindest and smartest horse you would ever meet and I'm so glad that we got to parade him one last time at the open day two weeks ago, when he looked incredible.
"This is such a sad day for everyone who has worked at Coolmore and played a part in Fastnet's life. Our thoughts today are with all the staff who cared for him over the past 24 years."
Fastnet Rock's 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.
In the Southern Hemisphere, he has sired 1,145 winners, a cohort headed by 140 stakes scorers, including 35 group 1 winners. The group is led by Australia's newly minted horse of the year Via Sistina, who is one of his 11 top-level winners bred in the Northern Hemisphere. The 2023 Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) winner will shoot for her 11th group 1 win, and 10th in Australia, in the Sept. 13 Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) at Flemington.
Globally, Fastnet Rock is responsible for 197 stakes winners, headlined by a record-breaking 44 group 1 winners, the most of any Australian-bred stallion.
Fastnet Rock's legacy has been secured by his daughters, who have produced 150 stakes winners in total, spearheaded by 16 group 1 winners, including 2024 Golden Slipper (G1) winner Lady Of Camelot, Zougotcha, and Warm Heart, winner of the 2023 Yorkshire Oaks (G1) and 2024 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T).
Such is his influence, he has been champion broodmare sire in Australia for the past two seasons, breaking records for the progeny earnings of his daughters.
Peter O'Brien, who worked for Coolmore for more than 35 years, said: "He's already been champion broodmare sire twice, champion sire twice—he's done everything. When I first came to Segenhoe (Stud) we tried to get as many Fastnet Rock mares as possible, and a lot of them are now our best producers.
"It's a beautiful, fitting tribute to him that, at 24 years of age, his daughter Via Sistina was Horse of the Year in Australia. When she got Horse of the Year I thought a lot of the younger people coming through the industry now probably wouldn't realize what an important horse he is, but Via Sistina just really franks it for the younger generation.
"I said to Tom (Magnier) that he's an absolute testament to the bedrock of Coolmore and how they look after and care for their horses. I couldn't believe how well he looked two weeks ago. It's a testament to the Magnier family and his owners, and particularly all the lads through the years who have looked after him."
