Quality mare Lone Rock looks set for Group One features following her breathtaking win in today’s Group Three Bobbie Lewis Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
At her second run since winning the Group One The Goodwood at Morphettville, Lone Rock produced a stunning final 600 metre sectional of 32.161 seconds to reel in the boom sprinter Bel Sprinter to win by a widening long neck margin.
Trainer Robert Smerdon wasn’t at Flemington to witness the astonishing performance – he’s currently in Korea for his son’s wedding.
Stable foreman Henry Dwyer was taken aback with the performance of the daughter of Fastnet Rock.
“From the 600 metre mark you could see her tracking into it,” Dwyer said. “It was just a matter of getting her clear and she really pounced.”
“It was a Group Three race in the book – but it was like a mini Newmarket or Lightning in quality.”
“In the end she has won it pretty easy that was probably a career best for her.”
“The other day wasn’t really her go. She was back and wide and the pace was pretty hot and she’s not a really red hot sprinter.”
“The two good wins she’s had have been over 1200 metres – she’s probably a 1400 metre horse the way she finishes off.”
“It’s onwards and upwards from here.”
“The option was a race at Caulfield in two weeks time – it wasn’t lofty or anything – but now she’s come out and done that you might have to think more than that.”
“I’ll have to talk to Robert and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a better race in store,” he added while suggesting that race could well be the Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400 metres.
Lone Rock has turned out a great moneyspinner for connections after being purchased by the Aquanita Racing team for $75,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by Lisa Randle she was sold through the draft of Duncan Grimley’s Glastonbury Farms at the Gold Coast. Earlier this year the same team sold her full sister for $230,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
By Coolmore Stud’s leading Danehill sire son Fastnet Rock, Lone Rock hails from a black type filled family – a daughter of the twice winning Lion Cavern mare Pride of Pine.
Pride of Pine is from the unraced Night Shift mare Storm at Night – a half sister to stakes winners Procrastinate, Galapagos Girl and Kampaign.
Procrastinate is better known these days as the dam of stakes winners Laisserfaire, Foreplay, Time Thief and Personify. She is also the grandam of group winners Centennial Park and Ballack.
Winner: Lone Rock
Breeding: Fastnet Rock-Pride of Pine (Lion Cavern)
Race: VRC Bobbie Lewis Handicap G3 (1200m)
Sold for: $75,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Glastonbury Farms (As Agent)
Buyer: Aquanita Racing
Earnings: $531,578
Owner(s): AS & JA Bongiorno
Trainer: Robert Smerdon (Caulfield)
