To Fast To Serious sparkles in trial

A sparkling trial at Byford on Sunday morning was a strong indication that inexperienced four-year-old To Fast To Serious will make a successful return to racing after a spell by proving too speedy for his rivals in the $30,000 Im Themightyquinn Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Astute Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams produced the lightly-raced WA-bred gelding in fine fettle for the 2150m seven-horse trial in which To Fast To Serious revealed early speed before taking the trail behind American Brave.

Valbonne dashed to the front after a lap, with Aldo Cortopassi content to race three back on the pegs in fourth position before To Fast To Serious ran home strongly to finish second to the talented American Brave, who rated 1.56.9 on a heavy track. The final 400m was covered in 27.7sec.

To Fast To Serious is a versatile pacer, with speed his greatest asset. He will start from the No. 2 barrier on the back line in Friday night’s 2130m Group 3 feature event.

He has raced only 17 times for 11 wins and three seconds. His eight appearances at Gloucester Park have produced four wins and two seconds.

Another four-year-old Euphoric Moment has a losing sequence of 17, but the Errol Ashcroft-trained gelding will have many admirers after most encouraging efforts at his past two outings when he ran on fast from ninth at the bell to be a neck second to The Last Drop over 2536m three Fridays ago and then when he set the pace and finished a half-length second to Perfect Major over 2130m the following week.

He will again be handled by Deni Roberts and will start from the inside of the back line, immediately behind the New Zealand-bred Triroyale Brigade, whose past ten starts have produced three wins and six seconds. Trainer Robbie Williams is sure to be anxious to set the pace with Triroyale Brigade, a smart frontrunner.

Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell has four-year-old Radiant Amber racing with refreshing enthusiasm and Aiden de Campo could make a bold bid for the early lead with the mare who will start from barrier six. She began brilliantly from the No. 5 barrier last Friday night when she set the pace and finished second to Blue Chip Adda over 2130m.

Another runner with sound prospects is Alta Intrigue, a New Zealand-bred six-year-old who will be driven by Stuart McDonald for champion trainer Gary Hall Snr. He has the ability to overcome a wide draw at barrier eight.

He started from the outside of the back line in a 1730m event last Friday night and settled down in eighth position before sustaining a spirited three-wide burst approaching the bell when a splendid second to The Kraken.

Ken Casellas