Oriel (GB) a first for Fastnet Rock

Highclere Thoroughbreds filly Oriel became the first European-bred winner by Fastnet Rock at Windsor on Monday.

Oriel (2f Fastnet Rock – Labisa by High Chaparral) had been placed at Ascot and Newbury before breaking through in the Isla Cecil Brighter Future Stakes (1000m).  She started an odds-on favourite and overhauled the leader Trinity River (Three Valleys) to score by a neck.

Consigned by Hillwood Stud for the 2012 Tattersalls October yearling sale, Oriel made 60,000 guineas to the bid of John Warren.  Her Irish bred dam Labisa won a Warwick maiden in 12 starts and she is a half-sister to Newmarket Group 2 winner Stimulation (Choisir).

Fastnet Rock was a late addition to Coolmore Stud’s shuttle brigade in 2010 and there are 67 registered two-year-olds from that first Irish conceived crop.

Fastnet Rock will relinquish his reign as Australia’s champion sire to Excel And Excel this week, however, there are more titles in store for the rising 12 year-old stallion.