Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
WA-bred six-year-old Faster Than Dad bounced back to form at his fourth appearance after a spell when Stuart McDonald drove him to an impressive win in the 2130m Camel Time Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Faster Than Dad, a $22.50 chance from out wide at barrier eight, was handled patiently by McDonald, who was content to have the gelding relaxing in tenth position before Chris Voak sent $14 chance Caliente forward with a three-wide burst approaching the bell.
Faster Than Dad then followed Caliente before switching four wide in the back straight and then going five wide at the 250m and bursting to the front 30m from the post before winning by a length from the $3.10 favourite Magnus Victor, who had taken a narrow lead at the 100m.
Benji ($4.80), who led by a length from the No. 2 barrier, but was unable to wrest the early lead from the polemarker and $3.10 chance Blackrock, was shuffled back to sixth at the bell before running home strongly, out five wide, to finish third. Blackrock was a head away in fourth place.
Prue George, wife of Faster Than Dad’s trainer Michael George, said that Friday night’s event was a drop in grade for the gelding, who ended a losing sequence of ten.
“The wide draw (barrier eight) was not ideal, but Stewie (McDonald) got him into a good spot before pulling him out at the right time,” she said.
“During his previous preparation Faster Than Dad was not himself when he had a couple of runs but was not firing. So, we put him out (for a spell) and brought him back fresh, and he has come back super.”
Faster Than Dad was driven by McDonald when the pacer made a successful debut as a two-year-old at Pinjarra in November 2020. Faster Than Dad is by Alta Christiano and is the third foal out of the New Zealand-bred Slick Bird, who raced 34 times for ten wins, nine placings and $89,999.
Slick Bird, who finished third behind Artemis Belle in the WA Oaks in May 2011, has been successful in the breeding barn, producing talented pacers Slick Artist, While They Pray and Archarne Girl.
Slick Artist won the group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic in February 2018, and after racing 18 times in WA for six wins and six placings as a two and three-year-old, she travelled to the United States in July 2018 where she won another 26 races and was retired after 173 starts produced 32 wins, 57 placings and $404,531.
While They Pray has raced 53 times for 16 wins, 14 placings and $185,868, and Acharne Girl has had 33 starts for 11 wins, nine placings and $200,382.
Slick Artist’s fifth foal is Her Presence, who was driven by McDonald when she won on debut as a three-year-old, scoring an easy victory over 2130m at Gloucester Park on August 13 this year.