Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Smart Alta Christiano pacer Faster Than Dad continues to race with great heart for Coolup trainer Michael George, who said that the gelding would be set for the $30,000 Four and Five-Year-Old Westbred Classic after Stuart McDonald had driven him to an impressive victory in the 21309m Xmas In July Book Now Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Stuey drove him perfectly and gave him a great trip,” said George. “Faster Than Dad has got a good engine, following horses. He will race through the winter, and hopefully run in the Winter Cup. He has shown signs that he can handle that grade (free-For-All company) and be a good earner. He will show me whether he can take on the bigger boys consistently.”
Faster Than Dad was the $3.60 favourite in Friday night’s event when he started from the No. 6 barrier. The Code Breaker ($4.20) took the lead after 100m, with Eldaytona ($4) in the breeze and Faster Than Dad quickly slotting into the perfect one-out, one-back position.
After The Code Breaker ran the third 400m section in 28.3sec. McDonald bided his time before he switched Faster Than Dad three wide and hit the front in the home straight before winning by a length from Eldaytona, with The Code Breaker a wilting third, just ahead of the fast-finishing Beat City.
The lightly-raced five-year-old Faster Than Dad has earned $91,642 from eleven wins and eight placings from 37 starts.