Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Enigmatic stallion Always Fast certainly does not always live up to his name, and his new trainer Michael Young derides him, saying: “He has horrific racing manners, and he just doesn’t try unless he leads.”
Always Fast was the $1.50 favourite from the No. 2 barrier in the 2130m Condolences To the Horn Family Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he was on his best behaviour with Gary Hall Jnr driving him to an effortless all-the-way victory.
“At his first three runs for me he has beaten home just one horse (with two 12th and last placings and an eighth in a field of nine),” said Young. “And tonight, he goes around at $1.50 and wins easily. He has won 12 races and he has led in all but one of them.
“He is a lazy horse, and unless he leads, he doesn’t try a yard. He is a very frustrating horse to train and he’s going to be a hair-puller.”
The Victorian-bred Always Fast, a six-year-old quiet stallion, set a solid pace on Friday night and coasted to a two-length win over $14 chance Rock me Over, rating 1.57.2. This improved his record to 55 starts for 12 wins, 17 placings and $178,815.
Always Fast is by American sire Always A Virgin and is the fourth foal out of the Live Or Die mare All The Magic, who has produced outstanding pacers Rocknroll Magic and Ride High.
Rocknroll Magic earned $466,183 from 24 wins and 14 placings from 48 starts, and his wins included two in Group 1 events, three in Group 2 races and two at Group 3 level.
Ride High was an outstanding performer until a tendon injury curtailed his career about two years ago when his record was 18 starts for 16 wins and one placing for stakes of $289,427.