Berkley Stud has signed Highly Recommended to stand alongside its resident sires Coats Choice and Edenwold at Canterbury in New Zealand.

Owners Edwina Morris and Alan Jones announced the signing of the Fastnet Rock stallion on Wednesday.  “We’ve been dying to get a son of Fastnet Rock for some time,” Morris said.  “But he had to be a quality racehorse with two-year-old ability, had to have speed and obviously a pedigree and type that would impress breeders.”

Prepared by champion Victorian trainer Peter Moody, Highly Recommended made an immediate impact as a two year-old.  “He showed us very good speed and was a brilliant debut winner over 1000m at Flemington,” Moody said.  “He had been training well so his first up win came as no surprise.”

In his classic season, the colt trumped G1 winners Ethiopia and Sangster in the G2 Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley – a race previously won by Casino Prince, Pins and Zabeel.

“I thought he was a Group 1 horse – he’s been ultra-consistent at the top level his whole career and raced almost exclusively in Group and Listed races,” Moody said.  “His win over 2040 metres in the Alister Clark was impressive, but on reflection I still feel a mile was his optimum distance.

“He had a great attitude and was an easy horse to train with a tremendous constitution.  He’s got that great Fastnet Rock temperament and when he lets down he will be an impressive looking stallion.”

Highly Recommended’s dam Suggestive (Al Hareb) has also foaled the stakes winners Sky Cuddle (G1 VRC Emirates Stakes), Sky Love (G3 SAJC Christmas Hcp & G3 Qld Tatts Mile), Undeniably (LR MRC Christmas Stakes) and Malaysian Listed winner Hint.

Berkley Stud will stand Highly Recommended at an introductory fee of $4,000 (+ gst).