Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
“The WA Pacing Cup is definitely not out of the question,” said trainer Michael George after five-year-old Faster Than Dad outclassed his rivals in the $23,000 Perth Now Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Resuming racing after an absence of almost three months, Faster Than Dad, driven by Stuart McDonald, was the $4.20 second fancy behind the $3.30 favourite Soho Dow Jones.
He began from the outside barrier in the field of eight and McDonald quickly had him poised to pounce from the one-out, one-back position behind Simply Shaz in the breeze while Soho Dow Jones was setting a solid pace after resisting an early challenge for the lead from Talks Up A Storm.
Faster Than Dad sprinted fast to burst to the front 220m from home and he raced away to win by five lengths from $31 chance Rocknroll Elliot, who ran on from sixth at the bell. Simply Shaz ($7.50) fought on to finish third after the final quarters were run in 28.9sec. and 28.4sec. The winner rated 1.56.3.
This was Faster Than Dad’s first appearance since he led and won narrowly from Paul Edward at Gloucester Park on July 7.
“He had a little cold after that, and I was changing stables (from Coolup to Pinjarra) so I thought it was the perfect time to give him a short let-up and bring him back to see if he could face up for the Pacing Cup,” said George.
“Without being too ambitious, the Pacing Cup is not out of the question. If he gets a lot of luck along the way and performs well in the $100,000 lead-up races before the Cup, he could get a start in the big race. If he gets a start in those races, I have no doubt that he will keep up and play a part. He is very fast, can run speed and finish with a quick quarter.”
Faster Than Dad has raced 40 times for 13 wins, nine placings and $125,023. He is an older full-brother to quality mare Acharne Girl (22 starts for nine wins, five placings and $133,565) and is also a full-brother to While They Pray (39 starts for 16 wins, 12 placings and $170,788), while his half-brother Slick Artist earned $370,303 from 29 wins and 50 placings from 143 starts.
McDonald has enjoyed a wonderful association with Faster Than Dad, having driven the Alta Christiano gelding 15 times for six wins and five placings.
George also is looking forward to contesting the $200,000 Golden Nugget on December 15 with Victorian pacer Rubins Plight, who has just entered his stables.
Rubins Plight has impressed with his 20 starts producing ten wins, five placings and $88,990 in stakes. He is a full-brother to Kimble, who has been sold to American interests to continue his career in the United States after earning $249,569 from 14 wins and 20 placings from 61 starts, including seven wins in WA.
Rubins Plight’s past six runs have resulted in four wins and two seconds, including a last-start second to Solesseo Matuca in the $150,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-olds at Melton on September 16 after finishing second to that pacer in a semi-final the previous week.
“Rubins Plight probably will have his first run in WA in the $35,000 Pinjarra Four-Year-Old Classic on November 6,” said George.