Promising Queensland sprinter Faster Son will commence his Melbourne campaign at Sandown next Wednesday (September 15) in a 1000m sprint on the Hillside course.

Faster Son (4g Fastnet Rock – Sonata by Palace Music) has won four of his five starts by big margins in the Sunshine State and has thrived since arriving at Caulfield last week.  The Trevor Bailey trained gelding is raced by Ontrack Thoroughbreds and syndicate manager Grant Morgan bought him for $45,000 at the 2008 Scone Inglis yearling sale.  

“I liked the Fastnet Rocks but it was hard work trying to buy one from his first crop,” Morgan recalled.  “I bid on a few of them at the major yearling sales but they were out of our price range.  We went to Scone and spotted Faster Son.  He wasn’t a typical Fastnet Rock being a bit on the small side but he was relatively correct.  We were fortunate to be at the right place at the right time.”

Faster Son has looked a potential black-type horse since a very impressive win at the Gold Coast on Melbourne Cup day last year.   He defeated Beethog on debut and that galloper was a subsequent winner of the G3 Gold Coast Guineas.

Second up, he was as green as grass when beaten a length by Kiss Kiss at Ipswich.  Losing a near-fore plate in the run didn’t help and he also ran off the track on the home turn.

Bailey tipped him out for a spell and he came back a much more mature galloper with two barrier-to-box wins at the Gold Coast in March and April by a combined total of 10 lengths.

The gelding missed out on a start in the Gold Coast Guineas and connections were exasperated when Beethog caused an upset in the $125,000 event.  “That’s racing,” Morgan said.  “The gods were telling us something so well sent him out again with the intention of winning a race in Brisbane after the winter carnival.”

That win came first-up on August 21 when Ric McMahon guided the gelding to a three length victory at Doomben.  “Ricky rode him well,” Morgan explained.  “We said lead if you can but, if you get taken on, take a sit.  It’s the first time the horse had to chase but, once balanced, he let down and blitzed ‘em.”

With Melbourne in mind, it was also pleasing to see Faster Son handle the wet track.

Faster Son is the third winner for Sonata who is by renowned broodmare sire Palace Music.  She won five races up to 2225m including the G3 Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm.  She was also runner-up to Arctic Scent in the 1996 G1 Queensland Oaks.  

Sonata has a 3yo filly named Global Anthem (General Nediym) who is trained by Peter Moody for Hobartville Stud owner Graham Mapp.  She was runner-up to Pinker Pinker at Sandown in July and the winner franked that form-line with an eye-catching victory at Flemington last Saturday.

Morgan is confident Faster Son can make the grade in Melbourne but is taking it one step at a time.  “There’s no point throwing him in at the deep end,” he said.  “Sandown is a good starting point and, if all goes well, he will then step up to the Rokk Ebony Cup at Caulfield on October 13.”