Awesome Rock could deliver more than one premiership for Gold Front Breeding & Racing when the season concludes this Sunday night.
The Group 1-winning son of Fastnet Rock will claim WA Second-season honours and he’s in pole-position for the WA 3YO Sires title. On Wednesday, Awesome Rock held a $235,000 margin over Rommel on the Second-season table and he was $140,000 ahead of Snippetson on the 3YO Sires ladder.
Gold Front owners Alan and Sue Olive deserve every accolade for the success of their foundation sire. After all, they bred him and then sold him for $575,000 at the 2013 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale while keeping a quarter-share in a syndicate with trainers Leon & Troy Corstens.
More importantly, they retained the standing rights which played out perfectly for a stud career following a Group 1 victory in the weight-for-age VRC Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
“It’s fantastic to be able to continue the ride with Awesome Rock,” Sue Olive said when he returned home to cover a first WA book in 2017. “He’s one of the first horses we bred and the highest-selling yearling we put through the sales to date.”
Respected Australian bloodstock agent Tony “Tubba” Williams, who was Goffs UK managing director in 2017 and most recently Aquis Farm CEO, was taken by his presence.
“Awesome Rock is physically the equal of any stallion standing at stud in Australia!”
Gold Front homebred filly Kaymay was the first winner by Awesome Rock in an autumn nursery at Ascot in April 2021 and he climaxed that initial season with a Belmont hat-trick by Searchin’ Roc’s.
The David Harrison-trained filly went to another level as a spring 3yo winning the LR Belgravia Stakes (1400m) and G3 Champion Fillies (1600m). She was last seen winning the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m) earlier this month
Searchin’ Roc’s is one of 17 individual winners from Awesome Rock’s first crop. Others include Rokanori (LR J C Roberts Quality) and the Stakes-performed winners Outspoken Lad and Diamond Blue.
Gold Front-bred filly Shagonarock can add an interstate victory this weekend for Gold Coast trainer Melissa Leitch. A last-start Ipswich winner on debut, she has been nominated for Race 5 at Eagle Farm on Saturday and Race 8 at Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock) stands for $7,700 at Gold Front Thoroughbreds alongside Moonee Valley G2 Stutt Stakes winner Leonardo Da Hinchi (Hinchinbrook) at $3,000.
