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Chequerboard shines in Tasmanian Oaks capping off a good weekend for the Coolmore stallion
Coolmore Stud-based Fastnet Rock (Danehill) capped off a brilliant weekend when he sired his third stakes winner in two days, which came courtesy of Chequerboard’s (3 f ex Chi by Zabeel) victory in the Tasmanian Oaks (Listed, 2100m) at Launceston seeing the stallion’s total stakes winners count rise to 169.
Last seen just being denied her first victory at stakes level in the Strutt Stakes (Listed, 2100m) on February 7, the Lindsay Park-trained three-year-old beat Queen Adele (Adelaide) by a length and a half, while My Squeeze Louise (Mongolian Khan) was a further three and a half lengths further adrift in third.
The Coolmore-raced filly is one of two winners and the first stakes winner out of the unraced Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare Chi, who is herself a daughter of Listed scorer Plans Awry (Topsider).
Plans Awry herself is also the dam of Group 2 winner What Can I Say (Khozaam) - the dam of Listed scorer Gibraltar Champion (Rock Of Gibraltar) and fellow Group 2 scorer Only Words (End Sweep), who in turn produced Group 2 winner Holy Snow (Fastnet Rock).
Further back this is the same pedigree as Listed winner Flame Of Sydney (Encosta De Lago) - the dam of Group 1 winner and now Aquis Stud-based sire Invader (Sntizel) and Group 2 winner Not Listenin’Tome (Dylan Thomas).
In 2020 Chi produced a colt by Fastnet Rock’s barnmate So You Think (High Chaparral).
The Fastnet Rock / Zabeel cross has been a good source of winners, with Chequerboard becoming the eighth stakes winner bred on the cross and they are headed by three Group 1 winners Avantage, Atlantic Jewel and Planet Rock.
Fastnet Rock sired his 168th stakes winner on Saturday when Chequerboard’s stablemate Parure won the Autumn Stakes (Gr 2, 1800m) at Caulfield, while his son Rocket Spade added a second stakes race to his record when he won the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m) at Ellerslie.
In winning the Listed race on Sunday, Chequerboard became the 12th stakes winner for Fastnet Rock this season, which is headed by Group 1-winning pair Avantage and Personal.
The stallion has 17 lots catalogued at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.