Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Two hours after Acharne Girl had finished a splendid third in the WA Oaks at Gloucester Park on Friday night her four-year-old full-brother Faster Than Dad finished fast to snatch victory in the Trots WA Pace to give champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr his fifth winner on the night.
“I’m rapt to get five; it doesn’t happen very often,” said Hall who had the $3.30 third fancy travelling well behind the pacemaker and $3.30 second favourite Little Bitof Fun before getting off the pegs and into the clear 270m from home.
Faster Than Dad, trained by Michael George, was switched three wide approaching the home turn and he sprinted strongly to get up and beat Little Bitof Fun by a half-length, rating 1.58.1 over 2130m.
“Faster Than Dad put the writing on the wall last week (when a fast-finishing half-head second to Kimble),” said Hall. “I was a bit worried down the back tonight when I could see that the run was coming. But I was travelling a bit too strong, and I thought that sometimes when a horse travels that strongly he doesn’t get out and go bang. But he got out and let down really good.”
Faster Than Dad is by former star pacer Alta Christiano and is the third foal out of Bettors Delight mare Slick Bird, who earned $89,999 from ten wins and nine placings from 34 starts. The highlight of Slick Bird’s career was her third placing behind Artemis Belle in the 2011 WA Oaks.
Faster Than Dad has had 22 starts for seven wins, four placings and $42,037. He was prepared by Gary Hall Snr for his first 20 starts for six wins and three placings. George has trained the gelding for a win and a second from two starts.
George also has enjoyed considerable success with Faster Than Dad’s full-brother While They Pray, who has raced 39 times for 16 wins, 12 placings and $170,788. Slick Bird’s first foal Slick Artist raced 93 times for 18 wins, 29 placings and $256,184. Her biggest success was in the Group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic in February 2018.