Father Time No Obstacle For ‘Old Marvel' Rick

IN two weeks time, Father Rick will turn four, but the son of Fernando Bale and Lagoon Prissy is going as good as ever and heads to Thursday night's Dapto Middle Distance Championship Final (600m) coming off a near track record heat win.

He went 34.03 last week leading throughout in his heat which is just outside the track mark of 33.99 held by Bandit Jane.

Ray and Sharron Webster own and race the grand galloper which has won 23 of his 72 starts and earned $133,000.

“He's just a marvel,” said Ray.

FIELDS AND FORM FOR DAPTO THURSDAY NIGHT

“He is such a kind and gentle dog, a dog who is not over the top so he conserves all his energy for racing.

“And, he continues to want to race.”

Father Rick has put on a bold display to win @Ladbrokescomau Middle Distance Championship Heat 1 at @DaptoG tonight, from One Hot Bandit, Sandstorm Rico and Energizer Miss in 34.03!

Full Results: https://t.co/MzJL1meROc#thedogs #greyhoundracing #daptogreys pic.twitter.com/LMz2xZnfEu

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) November 16, 2023

Father Rick is an outstanding race dog which has been third in the G3 Goulburn Cup and a finalist in the G1 Dapto Megastar and The Ambrosoli at Wentworth Park.

He has drawn the two in the final.

“I would prefer him off a wide draw there because he handles the camber of the track very well,” said Ray.

“But, he only has to begin like he did last week and he can lead.

“If he can get a break on them again he will be hard to beat.

“He's at the top of his game right now and for him to run just .04 off the track record last week proves that.

“I have not been able to confirm it, but I was told his first two sections last week were a record.”

With the fact he turns four early in December, Father Rick will be eligible for Masters racing and the potential opportunities that come with it.

Ray says “the two Bandit dogs” are the hardest to beat in the final, One Hot Bandit and Punter's Bandit, two of three from the Lord kennel.

Both have multiple Group and feature race performances to back up their claims as quality race dogs.

And, also in the line-up is recent Million Dollar Chase runner-up Cumbria Kid.

But for now, rising four-year-old Father Rick will continue to campaign against the best of them.

“He will tell us when he is ready to finish,” said Ray.

“But, at the moment he is still wanting to go racing.”