On a stellar weekend of racing it was many of our second season sires that stepped up to the plate with Shamardal posting a stakes double, High Chaparral a Group One winner and stakes-winners each for Al Maher, Dane Shadow and Fastnet Rock, who still leads what is appearing to be a very competitive division of young sires.

Fastnet Rock continues to hold sway by a big margin in terms of earnings and added a new stakes-winner to his tally on the weekend in unheralded filly Gybe, who won the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes at any old price.

Elvstroem filly Actrice started favourite in the race and didnt do a bad job to hold on for fifth on the heavy track after setting a hectic pace in front, while his classy three year-old Viking Legend gained a Group One placing when finishing third in the AJC Spring Champion Stakes won by Monaco Consul.

Making his Australian debut, unheralded Kiwi Monaco Consul proved way too good for the locals and will press on to Melbourne for the Group One VRC Victoria Derby where he should prove most competitive.

Shamardal had been looking for his first Australian stakes-winner and broke the duck with Run for Wilson in the Listed AJC Breeder Plate, then followed immediately with a Black Type win for Victoria Derby contender Shamoline Warrior.

Al Maher has a top class filly in the shape of Majestic Music, winner of the Group Two VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and heading for a crack at Group One glory next week in the Group One MRC Thousand Guineas.

Also with a Group Two winner was Dane Shadow, whose talented colt Shellscrape blew away his rivals to win the Group Two AJC Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick.

Leading Australian Second Season Sires by Earnings

Story courtesy Breednet