Fast Clip dented the AJC Derby aspirations for a string of runners when he thrashed his rivals to win the Group Two Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill today.
And the connections of Fast Clip themselves will have to sit down and see if their charge is ready for a Derby run himself.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse said the Frank Packer Plate and then a spell was on the agenda for Fast Clip but winning rider Nash Rawiller said he would suggest a Derby start.
“This is such a good horse,” Waterhouse said of the son of Snippetson.
“I will run him in the Frank Packer Plate then turn him out and take him to Melbourne,” she added.
“He’s a total professional and is such an exciting horse.”
While Waterhouse hadn’t really considered the Derby – Nash Rawiller is confident he would be one of the horses to beat.
“We thought going into the race that he might be a little bit vulnerable at the trip, he certainly proved that he is not,” Rawiller said.
“He relaxed beautifully and showed a really good turn of foot when I asked him and I would be pretty hopeful he goes to the Derby from here.”
“He will discuss (the Derby) during the week, but this horse has continued to thrive and I don’t think the (Derby) field is going to be too much strongly – obviously Jimmy Choux and the horses I have a lot of respect for but this bloke might be peaking at the right time.”
Gai Waterhouse purchased Fast Clip for $180,000 from the draft of Turangga Farm at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
With a record of four wins and three runner-up placings from just nine starts, Fast Clip has already earned his connections over $300,000.
Fast Clip ($6-$9-$8) ran out the 2000 metres of the race strongly to defeat I Think I Do ($15-$21) by a length and three quarters.
Shootoff ($51-$61-$41) was another long neck back in third place.
The heavily backed favourite Retrieve ($2-$1.70 fav) battled in the straight and wound up in sixth place, a touch over three lengths from the winner.
Fast Clip is by Snippetson – a former stakes winning son of Snippets – who like his sire is a star graduate of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Winner: Fast Clip (Snippetson-Hint of Glory)
Race: ATC Tulloch Stakes G2 (2000m)
Sold for: $180,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Turangga Farm (As Agent)
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse
Earnings: $301,780
Owner(s): Miss K Waterhouse, R Visalli, T & Mrs P Lanham, L Henderson, J & Mrs V Heriot, RM Herron, P Chambers & Greenwich Stud Syndicate (Mgrs: G & Mrs L Perry)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Randwick)
