The Leon and Troy Corstens trained Awesome Rock has finally won a Group 1 race when he took out the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington today.

Awesome Rock powers to the line to win the G1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Awesome Rock was first past the post in the Group 1 $1m Australian Cup over the same course and distance as today’s weight for age Group 1 earlier in the year during the Melbourne Autumn Carnival but was relegated to second after Preferment was awarded the race on protest.

Today’s winning rider Stephen Baster was aboard Awesome Rock in the Australian Cup and was very pleased to be able to boot the Fastnet Rock stallion home a clear winner today.

Baster settled Awesome Rock ($18) behind the well fancied French galloper Vadamos ($5.50) who seems to race a bit fierce in front for Damien Oliver.

Vadamos had a clear lead entering the straight and Baster waited as long as possible to ease out from behind the leader before giving Awesome Rock a clear run to the line.

Awesome Rock had three quarters of a length to spare on the line while the judge failed to split the second placed dead heaters Seaburge ($9.50) and Hauraki ($17).

Troy Corstens was full of praise for the winning ride of Baster who has been aboard Awesome Rock in every start since the Spring Carnival last year.

“It was an amazing run today,” Corstens said.

“It was a perfect ride today. He did an amazing job Stephen.”

“If you sit back and watch the ride. He sat behind Vadamos in the slip stream and just kept him out of that wind the whole way, peeled and knew what he had underneath him. It was just brilliant.”

Awesome Rock was coming off a last start fifth to Winx in the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago and Corstens said that the stable was reasonably confident heading it today’s race.

“We have been confident the whole way along. We always thought he had the Group 1 in him it was just great to be able to do it,” Corstens said.

Today’s win in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes will go a long way to enhancing a future stud career for Awesome Rock.

The United States was sent out as the $3.30 favourite and after settling near the tail of the field made some ground in the straight to end up in fifth position, two and half lengths from the winner.

Emirates Stakes Results