Lone Rock sent her broodmare value soaring when she won the G3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Lone Rock (3f Fastnet Rock – Pride of Pine by Lion Cavern) bounced back to form with the addition of blinkers.  She defeated Run For Levi (Hussonet) and Bullbars (Elusive Quality) to take her earnings over $140,000.

Trainer Robert Smerdon trialled the filly in shades at Cranbourne earlier in the week and she won the hit-out in brilliant fashion.  “Trialling her four days before was a bit of a concern,” Smerdon said.  “But it was just a matter of keeping her on top of her game till the end of the week.”

Smerdon was delighted to be able to secure an important Group result for long time stable clients Tony and Joe Bongiorno.  “They have been with me for 20 years now,” Smerdon said.  “We bought this filly at the Magic Millions and, once we won a city race it’s been all been about getting some black type.”

Connections are eyeing more feature events for Lone Rock with the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield just around the corner.  The Fastnet Rock filly was purchased for $75,000 from the draft of Glastonbury Farms at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.  

Lone Rock was bred by Lisa Randle and is by leading Coolmore sire Fastnet Rock from winning mare Pride of Pine.  Second dam Storm at Night (Night Shift) is related to the stakes winners Foreplay, Personify and Time Thief.

A Fastnet Rock sister to Lone Rock will be offered by Glastonbury Farms at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.