Coastwatch Half-Brother for Inglis Easter
Well travelled gelding Coastwatch (6g Fastnet Rock x Bullion Mansion, by Encosta de Lago) has had his ups and downs, but now has a long range Group I Stradbroke plan after winning stakes race number four in the Listed MRC John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
After finding himself in the awkward position of taking the field up to leader Buffalo River, who put several lengths on the field in the middle stages, the Richard and Will Freedman trained Coastwatch kicked strongly into the straight and held on gamely to win by a length for Damian Lane.
The win takes his record to five wins, four seconds, and three thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $914,125.
Coastwatch was originally a $750,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft and joined the Chris Waller stable.
A Group II winner and Group I placed, his form tapered off and the son of Fastnet Rock was offered through Inglis Digital May (Early) Online Sale in 2022, selling for $500,000 to A P Chan and was shipped to Hong Kong in September of that year.
The move proved unsuccessful and he was returned to Australia in March 2023 and didn’t see a race track again until March 2024 when he moved into the care of Richard and Will Freedman..
“I was happy there was genuine speed. He gets better as he gets deeper into his prep,” said Will Freedman.
“He gave a good kick at the 300 and put them away.”
“The race that I’ve earmarked, because he’s quite a good handicap horse is getting him ready for the Stradbroke.”
Coastwatch is a half-brother to Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss and one of seven winners for Encosta de LAgo mare Bullion Mansion, a daughter of Group I Australasian Oaks winner La Volta.