While They Pray steps up to Free-For-All level

Progressive pacer While They Pray will get a chance to prove his feature race credentials when he steps up to Free-For-All company later this campaign.

The four-year-old produced the best performance of his career in Friday night’s Kerry Clarke 4&5YO Classic when he wore down proven Free-For-All pacer Rock Me Over.

While They Pray wasn’t able to work to the front and had to sit behind Rock Me Over in running.

The gelding ran home in 57.1 to score by 2.9m in an exciting finish to the feature.

Trainer Michael George told TABradio Gary Hall Jnr’s drive was crucial in securing the win in the $30,000 event.

“It was a fantastic race,” he said.

“We didn’t expect to get to the front easy enough and we never did and I certainly never expected to be sitting on Rock Me Over for the first lap.

“It was a 10 out of 10 drive by Junior.

“He knew what horse he had and he executed that pretty well.”

While They Pray took his record to 14 wins from 30 starts, including success in three of his past four.

George stopped short of declaring the son of Alta Christiano a Cups contender but was hopeful of giving him a shot in FFA company in the coming weeks.

“He’s obviously got the ability, he’s got the times and he’s proven himself that he can run speed,” he said.

“I’d like to teach him how to race a little bit better every week but how can you when he’s earning and winning so well.

“If I could get him to settle and sit up, whether he’s Cups horse I’m not sure.

“I still think the horse could get better with maturity and he’s still only four and just turning five.”

George added he would likely have to find another driver for While They Pray if he stepped him up to FFA company, due to Hall Jnr’s commitment to driving Chicago Bull.

Chicago Bull continued his winning ways on Friday and kicked off a big weekend for some of the sport’s shining lights.

Self Assured, Ride High, King Of Swing and Chicago Bull all won over the weekend as they continue to build up towards feature races later this year.

Listen to Michael George on TABradio below:

Tim Walker