Fresh from selling a $4 million colt at the Inglis Easter Sale, Fastnet Rock sired his latest stakes-winner on Saturday when Fast Dragon took out the LR Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie.

Improving at his third start and appreciating a step up to 1600 metres, Fast Dragon took the mile contest by a long neck from Whistling Dixie (Pins) and Puccini (Encosta de Lago).

Fast Dragon (2c Fastnet Rock – Secret Silence by Fusaichi Pegasus) cost $125,000 from Westbury Stud at the 2012 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.  He is one of three winners out of Secret Silence who is a half-sister to the dams of stakes-winners Royal Discretion, Roulettes and Rock Robster, who is also by Fastnet Rock.

The mare’s latest Fastnet Rock – a filly – sold for 375,000 at this year’s NZB Premier Yearling Sale.  Secret Silence has a colt on the ground by Makfi.

Fast Dragon is the 43rd stakes-winner for Australia’s reigning champion sire.  The Coolmore star also went close in a Group 1 on Saturday with his two year-old filly Scandiva who finished second to Guelph in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes.

“We were very confident and he had been set for this race since he had his first start back in November,” said Allan Peard, stable foreman to trainer Bruce Wallace.  “We put him aside and he was always going to develop and we specifically targeted this race.

“He’s a very big boy and was always going to hit the line,” Peard said.  “We will see how he pulls up after this, but there are two races in Sydney for him so we might look at that or just put him aside.”

Jockey Paul Taylor said Fast Dragon had plenty of ability but still lacked ringcraft.  “He still doesn’t know what he’s doing and he’s going to make a nice staying three-year-old.  He’s a lovely big, long horse.”