Former Newcastle racehorse turned Hunter Valley stallion Fastnet Rock was officially crowned Australia’s best sire of last season at horse racing’s awards ceremoney in Melbourne tonight.
Fastnet Rock, trained by Paul Perry, won six races including two Group 1’s, and won the champion sprinter award in the 2004/05 year.
Since going to Coolmore Stud at Jerry’s PLains for stud duties, the son of Danehill has sired 10 individual Group 1 winners, and now commands a stud fee of $220,000.
Meanwhile, in an event which had only one genuine contender, Black Caviar has been crowned Australia’s Champion Racehorse for the second successive season.
The official imprimatur caps a season – and perhaps a career – in which Australia’s greatest horse went to the world, defying the ordeals of travel and injury to stretch her winning record to 22-from-22.
The last horse to win successive Horse of the Year awards was triple Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva who took out the title for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons.
Before that another great mare, Sunline, won three successive titles from 1999-2001.
