Talented gelding Rain Drum posted a career-best performance in the G3 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

He is the 49th stakes winner for Coolmore Stud’s champion sire Fastnet Rock.

Rain Drum (6g Fastnet Rock – Gifted Spirit by Thunder Gulch) was resuming from a 16 month spell but rose to the challenge for connections.  He brought up a Group double for part-owner Greg Perry of Greenwich Stud who is also in the syndicate that races G1 Moir Stakes winner Samaready.

The Gai Waterhouse trained gelding settled back in the field and threaded his way between runners along the inside section of the track to beat Centennial Park by a head.  “It was a great effort, a great training performance and a terrific performance by the horse himself,” jockey Peter Robl declared.  “He was strong through the line, he travelled lovely in the run.

“He gives you the feel of a smart horse, as soon as the run came he knew where he was going, drove through, pinned his ears back, he wanted to attack the line.”

Rain Drum was a $280,000 purchase from the Goodwood Farm draft at the 2009 Inglis Easter yearling sale and has now earned over $300,000.  He is from a half-sister to G2 winner Light Up the World and to the dams of G1 stars Bentley Biscuit and Thorn Park.