News

Queensland Guineas Cakewalk for Rothesay

14th Jun 2010

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 12 June 2010

Exciting Fastnet Rock colt Rothesay stamped himself as a potential globe-trotting star of the future when producing a scintillating win in the Group Two QTC Queensland Guineas over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Gerald Ryan trained colt looked good in beating older horses at his previous run in the Group Three BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup, but took it up another notch for this assignment.

Drawn 16 in a field of 17, Rothesay (pictured) was allowed to settle worse than midfield and find his feet by Blake Shinn, before striding into the race from the top of the straight.

He looked the winner a long way out and strode away with a powerful turn of foot to win by more than three lengths from Lonhro gelding Launay.

“He’s very good, certainly one of the best I’ve trained,” said Gerald Ryan.

“He worked brilliantly earlier in the week and it was a great ride by Blake from the wide draw.

“He can let down really quickly and it will be very exciting with him in the spring.”

Rothesay will head to the spelling paddock straight away and while there are nice races for him in the spring, his trainer has bigger long term goals in mind.

“This time next year I’d like to be in the UK with him… Royal Ascot 2011,” Ryan revealed.

“I’d love to race him over there in some of those weight-for-age mile events that Starcraft won.”

Passed in shy of his $150,000 reserve at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when consigned by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock, Rothesay was retained to race by his breeder, Mrs Sue Suduk in partnership with Mike Ryan, the win tinged with sadness as Mrs Suduk passed away recently after a long battle with illness.

Rothesay has won four of seven starts earning $384,150 in prizemoney and is the second foal and first stakes-winner for minor winner Schiaparelli, a half-sister by Woodman (USA) to stakes-winners Causeway Lass and Astute Angel from triple Group One winner Canny Lass.

Schiaparelli was sold as part of the Risdon Dispersal of mares conducted by Inglis in 2008 fetching $700,000 to the bid of Emirates Park.

Covered by Emirates Park based Al Maher last spring, Schiaparelli has a weanling filly by Redoute’s Choice, her yearling full sister to Rothesay sold by Emirates at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $250,000 to James Bester Bloodstock.

Rothesay is one of nine stakes-winners this season for Coolmore based Fastnet Rock, who has had a service fee increase to $137,500 for this spring