Unition (AUS)

Always close to the lead, Unition (Fastnet Rock) took advantage and held off late challenges for a debut victory in the Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1000m). Beginning well he sat one out just back of the lead from the 800m, holding that spot around the turn and entering the straight. Upon straightening he took over narrowly before seeing off several challengers to win by a short neck. Unition is bred to be good, being by twice Champion Australian Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill) from the high class racemare Diademe (Savabeel). Diademe’s seven wins included the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) and three further Group victories. She is a sister to classic winner Embellish, the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) winner whose exciting career was cut short by injury. Unition has a stallion’s pedigree, with sons of Fastnet Rock highly desired by studs and his close relative Embellish beginning his stud career this season at Cambridge Stud. Unition’s older three-year-old brother, Conqueror is also in good form having finished second in the Sandown Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m) the previous week. In addition to Embellish and Diademe, his grandam Bling (O’Reilly) has produced two further stakes performers and is a sister to stakes placed Irish Nova, the dam of champion NZ sprinter Sacred Star (Flying Spur). In 2018 Diademe foaled a filly by Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro) and this year a filly by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice).