Fast Cash lives up to name to clinch VOBIS Gold Carat and pocket $120,000

FAST Cash is appropriately named for Wendy Kelly. The three-year-old, who cost $10,000, won the VOBIS Gold Carat and pocketed $120,000 for connections.

Melbourne Racing

FAST Cash is appropriately named for trainer Wendy Kelly. The three-year-old, who cost only $10,000, last night won the VOBIS Gold Carat and pocketed $120,000 for connections.

The son of Charge Forward, who was runner-up to Rich Enuff two starts back, took his career record to two wins and two seconds from six starts, and prizemoney of $173,000.

Kelly said she will continue to cash fast cash and will consider the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Australia Day.

“We have changed the way he races. He used to get back and rattle home but was finding it tough to gather up horses like Rich Enuff.

He finished second to the spring’s spruik galloper in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley in August and from that moment Kelly sat down with owner Ken King to devise a way to win VOBIS money and chance the galloper’s style.

Vlad Duric returns aboard Fast Cash after winning the Vobis Gold Carat. Picture: Getty Images

“We have done a lot of work with him to bounce and stay in contact with them. I’ve worked him with my quarter horse, Jimmy, so he deserves a pat,” she said.

Fast Cash ($3.30) jumped with the smart field on Saturday night and sat handy before swamping Tudor ($5) to win running away by one-and-three-quarter lengths, with a half-length back to Rough Justice ($5).

The favourite, Profit Share from the Darren Weir yard, came home fourth but was well held throughout.

Jockey Vlad Duric kept at Fast Cash during the race and Kelly explained that was necessary as “if you don’t he just relaxes and drops back.”

“We hope now that it has clicked with him. He has a lot of talent and if he can race handy he will be competitive in any race.

“We will enter him for the Group 3 race next. I think his best trip is 1200m to 1400m.”

This race was won last year by Trust In A Gust, who went on to win at Group 1 level.

Double delight and deflation

VICTORIAN punters lucky enough to snare the running double on races three and four at Moonee Valley on Saturday night must have felt cheated.

The double of Beliveau and Arena Rock (trained by Caulfield pair Clinton McDonald and Luke Oliver) paid $1802 in Victoria, but a massive $5208 in NSW.