All U Need Is Faith wins debut

When you've got a pedigree and you're from the All Stars stables, the expectations are always high, and that was the case today when harness racing debutant All U Need Is Faith raced at Winton.

The full brother to last year's Kindergarten Stakes winner Pacing Major had been solid at trials, winning once and being placed twice before today's race, so that form made him favourite in the Western Electrical Two Year Old Mobile Pace.

Driver Matt Anderson didn't push the go button from barrier fiv, preferring to let the horses inside do the scrapping. With I'mallaboutthebase working hard to take the lead Anderson slotted All U Need Is Faith into the one one behind the parked horse Triroyale Brigade. With 900 metres to run he popped out of the sit and progressed forward to sit parked beside the leader. At the 400 metres All U Need Is Faith was up challenging the leader with his stablemate Speech Is Silver sweeping around the outside to add to the mix.

The two All Star colts knuckled down early in the run home with All U Need Is Faith proving too game for Speech Is Silver winning by a neck with Triroyale Brigade four and a half lengths back in third. 

All U Need Is Faith (5) beating stablemate Speech Is Silver (9)      Photo Bruce Stewart.

"He wasn't foolproof. We've still got a few things to iron out. He's not the real deal yet but if he keeps going the way he's going he'll be a nice horse," said Anderson.

He said this race was one the stable had targeted and the trip away would also help the Art Major colt. 

"He's quite casual at this stage and doesn't know what it's all about. A couple of days away from home will do him good."

All U Need Is Faith is owned by Dennis and Mark Dunford who've owned a handful of very good horses including Have Faith In Me and Hands Christian. 

All U Need Is Faith was bred by Woodlands Stud and was sold as Phenomenon at the 2016 Australasian Classic Yearling Sales. He was the second top lot of the sale selling for $180,000.

In fact the first three horses home in today's race were all sold out of the Auckland sale.

Speech Is Silver, a close relative to Auckland Reactor, sold for $17,500 while Triroyale Brigade sold for $50,000.

The time of 1-55.9 was a new track record for two year old colts and geldings. The previous record of 1-56.5 was hold by Courage Tells and was recorded in 2010.

Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing