Wendy Kelly is on a learning curve with promising three-year-old Fast Cash this preparation.
The trainer is looking at this campaign as a chance to test the waters with the gelding to discover what distances, and even tracks, he is best suited to.
Fast Cash finished strongly first-up to win the $150,000 Vobis Gold Carat (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 3.
He faces his next test in Monday’s Group Three Manfred Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.
Fast Cash has had five starts for two wins and two placings.
He flashed home for second to quality colt Rich Enuff in the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley in August at his third start before being beaten just under three lengths when sixth in the Listed Living Legends Stakes (1400m) at Flemington won by Merion.
Kelly was delighted with Fast Cash’s 1-3/4 length first-up win, in a race they had targeted with the three-year-old, and said he was fitter again for Monday’s race.
“This preparation, we’re just having a look at him. We’re just working out where he sits in the whole scheme of things,” Kelly said.
“He’s a horse that didn’t appear to get the 1400-metres at his last run last preparation but in saying that I think he had had enough by then and did not race up to his best that day.
“He has come back a stronger horse so we just want to try him over a few different distances and get a bit of a gauge as to where he’s going to fit in the whole scheme of his racing.”
Kelly said Fast Cash will be nominated for the Australian Guineas (1600m) but is unsure whether he will get there.
“We’ll see how he goes over the 1300-metres this time,” Kelly said.
“We really haven’t got anything specific mapped out for him.”
A field of 12 has been declared for the Manfred Stakes headed by Sandown Guineas winner Petrology and Moonee Valley Vase winner Moonovermanhattan who have drawn barriers 11 and 10 respectively while Fast Cash has gate two.
Kelly believes Fast Cash will keep improving as he gets a bit older.
“I think he’s going to be a very nice, handy horse. He’s definitely Saturday class, maybe just a little bit better than that,” Kelly said.
“I know (jockey) Vlad (Duric) really likes him and is very excited about him, so that’s always a good thing.”
