Crack Dongara-trained sprinter Full Steam Ahead continued his rise to the top with an easy win in the Tapps Contracting Handicap (1400m) at Belmont Park on Saturday (May 5).
Full Steam Ahead, by Trade Fair from Like A Steam Train, by Warring Nations, and trained by the veteran Noel Pateman should be unbeaten in his only three runs on city tracks.
He finished with a race best 34.68sec. final 600m to win the twitter.com/perthracing Handicap (1100m) on March 21 by two lengths and was then trapped wide throughout when a game but most unlucky one length fourth to Shario Torio in the perthracing.com.au Handicap (1200m) on April 11.
Stable representative Andrew Masters said Full Steam Ahead, bred by Mrs L. Allen, would ‘only continue to improve.’
“He scares you he is that powerful in his work,” said Masters. “He takes twice the stride of a normal horse.
“He’s very good and he’s improving all the time.”
Like A Steam Train won at only two of 29 starts but descends from a highly-distinguised winning family.
Her dam, Chantelisa, by Inceptor, was a half-sister to Business Beat (Listed N.J. Way Stakes, Lindsay Rosenthal Stakes, Colonel Reeves Sprint and Supremacy Stakes) and to Matilda Waltz (the dam of Old Fashion, winner of the Group 1 Railway Stakes, Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes, R.J. Peters Stakes and Hyperion Stakes and Listed Belgravia Stakes, Challenge Stakes, Fairetha Stakes and Bunbury Stakes).
This is also the family of Special Harmony (Group 1 VRC Oaks, One Thousand Guineas and Arrowfield Stud Stakes, Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes, A.V. Kewney Stakes, Moonee Valley Oaks and Angus Armanasco Stakes, Group 3 Autumn Stakes and Listed Silver Jubilee Stakes), King Canute (Group 2 Perth Cup), Redwoldt (Group 2 Karrakatta Plate and Listed Perth Stakes), Marooned Lady (Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes), Pagonic (Group 3 Bunbury Cup and Listed Tattersall’s Cup, Anniversary Cup and Pinjarra Guineas), Beat The Storm (Group 3 Belmont Sprint and Listed Birthday Stakes), Oxidation (Listed Challenge Stakes), Like An Eagle (Listed Hareeba Stakes), Little Surfer Girl (Listed Civic Stakes, Angst Stakes and Reginald Allen Handicap) and Mapperholic (Listed Hannan’s Handicap and Raconteur Stakes).
Trade Fair has been having a super overseas run which is about to be replicated on Perth tracks. We have no doubt he is the best value sire standing in WA. Check the facts and form your own opinion!