Fastnet Latina kept his perfect Australian record intact with a narrow, but decisive win over 1400m at Sandown on Wednesday.
On the back of an impressive Australian debut at Terang, where the 4YO showed a lethal turn of foot over the final furlong, he was sent out a well-backed favourite at Sandown.
Piloted by Jordan Childs, the son of Fastnet Rock overcame traffic issues and showed great determination when taking a small gap about 300m from home to set sail after the tearaway leader, Valtimor. As he did on his Australian debut, Fastnet Latina again displayed an ability to quicken and managed to claim the front in the shadows of the post.
Fastnet Latina’s trainer, Archie Alexander was bullish about the entire after the race suggesting he will continue to improve up in trip and the likely next step is a mile – which he should relish.
Interviewed on racing.com after the race, OTI’s Director, Terry Henderson uncovered the backstory to Fastnet Latina’s history, and road to recovery after sustaining a tendon injury when racing in the USA. Henderson quipped that his former trainer, Christophe Clement suggested that “in America when they do a tendon, we retire them” to which he quickly replied “we don’t quite do that in Australia.”
Fastnet Latina is one of several Northern Hemisphere Fastnet Rock’s OTI has acquired. He was part of the first crop of yearlings purchased and the future looks bright with the impressive UK-based debut winner, Manangatang (trained by Luca Cumani) an exciting prospect from the second crop, who is about to embark on a potential Derby campaign.
The continuing success of Fastnet Latina is due to the team that worked tirelessly on his recovery, along with Archie Alexander and his stable, who have been very patient with the horse.
