Veteran trainer Noel Pateman has heaped praise on the rapidly-emerging Trade Fair four-year-old Full Steam Ahead.
Pateman, who controlled one of the State’s biggest and most successful teams when based at Anstey Beach in the 1970’s, had his first Perth starter for seven years when Full Steam Ahead powered home under 59kg for an easy first-up win in the Twitter.Com/Perthracing Handicap (1100m) at Ascot on Wednesday (March 21).
“He’s real, real smart,” said Pateman, who is now based at Dongara. “He doesn’t know what he is doing. Doesn’t have any idea.
“We’ve given him plenty of time and we’ll continue to follow the same path. He’ll probably only have another two runs before being turned out again.
“He’s a 17 hand monster. He’ll repay the patience in spades.
“My daughter paid just $3000 for him. She treats him like a million dollar horse.”
Full Steam Ahead now has two wins and a second from three career starts.
He was beaten 1 3/4-lengths by Toss’N’Spin in the Stramit Building Products Maiden (1100m) in his race debut at Geraldton last November 19.
Full Steam Ahead then won the Geraldton Party Hire Maiden (1200m) by 1 1/4 lengths in 1.11.88, when wide throughout, on December 8 and followed-up by taking the Mitchell and Brown Handicap (1400m) under 58kg on December 27.
Full Steam Ahead, bred by Mrs L. Allen, is from Like A Steam Train, by Warring Nations, a half-sister to Oxidation, Metallurgy and Stormy Business, the dam of Beat The Storm and Like An Eagle.