His name was taken from a champion sprinter-miler but Move Faster (NZ) was very much at the other end of the speed scale in his early days.

“We named Move Faster after NZ Horse of the Year Mufhasa,” owner-trainer Rudy Liefting explained. “But when we first got him going he was dead slow and didn’t show anything at all.”

Move Faster (3c Keeper – Justa Tad by Istidaad) has subsequently proved himself a most progressive colt and bagged the second black type success of his blossoming career in the Listed Wanganui Guineas on Saturday.

He had won the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki as a late season two year-old but wasn’t always regarded so highly.  “He ran a long and lonely last in his first trial at Ellerslie,” Liefting recalled.  “He’s got an ordinary action and feels like you’re riding a trotter!”

Pukekohe based Liefting also bred the colt with wife Megan.  They race him under the Kakapo Lodge banner along with stable client Ross Hirst.  Connections will decide this week whether to keep him in training or go for a break and return in the autumn.

Move Faster is by Cambridge Stud sire Keeper from Justa Tad who won the G1 NZ Guineas – NZ Oaks double for the Lieftings in 2004-05.  Her first NZ bred foal Just Got Home (Storming Home) has won twice for the couple and her second Tohunga (Zabeel) finished fourth in the 2012 G1 Queensland Derby for Gai Waterhouse.

The Lieftings originally purchased Justa Tad (NZ) for $1,000 as a weanling at a NZ Bloodstock Karaka Sale in 2002.  She has a 2yo colt by Perfectly Ready and a yearling filly by Zabeel.