Sometimes the rich just get richer. That's not something to bitch about I suppose. The wealthy can often afford to open up a whole plethora of opportunities the rest of us can only dream of. And there is nothing wrong with that, it allows for the creation of more wealth which in turn drags the rest of us along for the ride. In 2002 Linley Investments, a company owned by one John Magnier, sent a bay colt by Danehill out of Piccadilly Circus to the sales ring in Australia. The colt failed to reach the reserve price and was passed in. Coolmore decided to keep the colt.
During his two year old season, he failed to win a race. He had seven cracks at it but the best he could muster was three seconds and a third. He did however run fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper, Australia's premier two year old event. As it turned out, he had just one more season up his sleeve, and what a season it proved to be. At his initial start as a three year old, in a G2 event, he again finished second. He won his next two races, one at G2 and the other at G3. Then followed a second at G2, a third in a Listed event and then a failure in the G1 Caulfield Guineas where he failed to get the mile. But then he turned things around. Three weeks later they dropped him back to 1200m for a G3 event, he won. Two weeks later he smashed then in the G2 Lexus over 1200m. They then dropped him back a further 200m for the G1 Lightening, he bolted in. It was then onto the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Another win. He had two more runs left in his career. In the premier sprint in Australia, the Newmarket, he finished second, and then rounded off his racing with another second, this time in the in the G1 T. J. Smith. His three year old season earned him not just Champion 3yo, but Australian Champion Sprinter as well.
Onto his stud career. The horse's fee for the first three years stood at AU$55,000. On 08 it was bumped up to AU$82,500 before falling to AU$60,500 for the next season. Then things began to take off. His fee more than doubled for 2010. By 2011 it had risen to AU$132,000. His stock was now flying. His fee jumped to AU$220,000 for 2012. By 2013, it had reached AU$275,000. Coolmore had to be over the moon. His fee for this season is a private matter. But serious money is being made here. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, as a shuttle stallion, in 2012, he covered an amazing 391 mares. Greedy? Maybe. To date he's sired 17 individual winners of 28 G1 events. His offspring have so far returned about AU$55,000,000 in prize money. But he's one hell of a cash cow. And the name of this money machine? Fastnet Rock.
During his two year old season, he failed to win a race. He had seven cracks at it but the best he could muster was three seconds and a third. He did however run fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper, Australia's premier two year old event. As it turned out, he had just one more season up his sleeve, and what a season it proved to be. At his initial start as a three year old, in a G2 event, he again finished second. He won his next two races, one at G2 and the other at G3. Then followed a second at G2, a third in a Listed event and then a failure in the G1 Caulfield Guineas where he failed to get the mile. But then he turned things around. Three weeks later they dropped him back to 1200m for a G3 event, he won. Two weeks later he smashed then in the G2 Lexus over 1200m. They then dropped him back a further 200m for the G1 Lightening, he bolted in. It was then onto the G1 Oakleigh Plate. Another win. He had two more runs left in his career. In the premier sprint in Australia, the Newmarket, he finished second, and then rounded off his racing with another second, this time in the in the G1 T. J. Smith. His three year old season earned him not just Champion 3yo, but Australian Champion Sprinter as well.
Onto his stud career. The horse's fee for the first three years stood at AU$55,000. On 08 it was bumped up to AU$82,500 before falling to AU$60,500 for the next season. Then things began to take off. His fee more than doubled for 2010. By 2011 it had risen to AU$132,000. His stock was now flying. His fee jumped to AU$220,000 for 2012. By 2013, it had reached AU$275,000. Coolmore had to be over the moon. His fee for this season is a private matter. But serious money is being made here. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, as a shuttle stallion, in 2012, he covered an amazing 391 mares. Greedy? Maybe. To date he's sired 17 individual winners of 28 G1 events. His offspring have so far returned about AU$55,000,000 in prize money. But he's one hell of a cash cow. And the name of this money machine? Fastnet Rock.
