There are more dollars on offer in the VOBIS Gold Sprint, but it makes more sense for trainer Wendy Kelly to run Fast Cash in the Anniversary Vase.
Fast Cash was nominated for Saturday’s $250,000 Gold Sprint at Caulfield but connections have accepted for the Listed Anniversary Vase over 1400m.
The presence of Group One Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback in the Gold Sprint was a major factor in sending Fast Cash to the Vase.
“He had run two strong 1300-metre races leading into the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington,” Kelly said.
“And I just feel he’s very disadvantaged going up against horses that have won Newmarkets, carrying the same weight.
“I’d love him to have a shot at the prize money of the VOBIS Gold race, but sometimes you just have to be a little bit realistic too.”
After a Moonee Valley placing first-up this campaign, Fast Cash put wins together at Sandown and Bendigo before finishing worse than midfield in the Listed Hareeba Stakes.
But Kelly felt Fast Cash didn’t get the clear galloping room he needed to be able to build to his top gear in the Hareeba.
“His work has been super the whole way through this preparation,” Kelly said.
“He really didn’t take much out of the last run because he never really got much of a crack at them.”
Kelly believes the four-year-old is better equipped now to handle a step back up to 1400m for the first time in a year.
Fast Cash is at $13 with topweight Charmed Harmony and Dan Zephyr the $5.50 equal favourites.
Trainer John Sadler doesn’t want a firm track for Charmed Harmony and he will wait until Saturday morning to decide if the last-start Victoria Handicap placegetter takes his place in the race.
