Ballylinch acquires 60 per cent share in progressive Fas

Ballylinch Stud could be welcoming another son of Fastnet Rock to its roster in the not too distant future after the County Kilkenny farm bought a 60 per cent share in Pia Brandt's blossoming sprinter Fas.

Fas skipped the Commonwealth Cup on account of the quick conditions, and his trainer will be monitoring the weather in Newmarket before committing the three-year-old to a tilt at the July Cup.

"We'll keep an eye on the ground and the weather for him as he is still in the July Cup," said Brandt. "The alternative would be the Maurice de Gheest and no decision has been made yet. It was very hot the week of Ascot and the ground was quick, while we were also finalising the details with the new owner. But the horse is well."

Bred and raced in the earlier part of his career by Zalim Bifov, Fas got off the mark in a 6f maiden on his two-year-old debut at Deauville last year, but failed to return to the winner's enclosure in three more starts as a juvenile.

Alain Jathiere subsequently bought into the colt, who made a winning start to his three-year-old campaign in Listed company over 6f at Chantilly.

Fas followed up with a handsome three and a half length win over subsequent Classic winner Precieuse in the Group 3 Prix Sigy over the same course and distance in April.

The Fastnet Rock colt is the first foal out of the Listed-placed Dutch Art mare Sotka, a half-sister to the bullet that was Sole Power.

Sole Power won five races at the highest level over the minimum trip, and appears twice on the roll of honour of both the King's Stand Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Brandt also trains Fas's half-sister Vlatka - a two-year-old Dawn Approach filly - while Sotka has also produced a yearling Kodiac filly and was covered by No Nay Never last year.

Should Fas be added to his new owner's stallion roster, Ballylinch would be doubling up on Fastnet Rock as his son Fascinating Rock covered his first book of mares there this year.

This is not the first time that Ballylinch has looked to strengthen its ranks with a French recruit, with current residents Lawman, Lope De Vega, Make Believe and New Bay all having landed Classics across the English Channel.

Make Believe won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Lawman and New Bay won the Prix du Jockey Club, with Lope De Vega completing the double.

Dream Ahead - a transferee to Haras de Grandcamp for the 2017 breeding season - won five top-flight races including the 2011 July Cup, so Fas may be seen as a future replacement for the nine-year-old son of Diktat.

While the roster at Ballylinch incorporates a number of different lines, only the dual purpose sire Beat Hollow represents the Sadler's Wells line.

New Bay, who covered his first book this year, is a son of Dubawi while Make Believe, who has his first foals on the ground, is a paternal grandson of Dubawi through Makfi.

So Fas would, in effect, represent another valuable outcross on the Irish stallion market hailing from Ballylinch. All he now needs to do is pass the racecourse test, and the July Cup presents him with the perfect opportunity to do just that.