Flying Trial Has Aston Fastnet Primed For Cup

A 29.63 first-look trial at Albion Park last week has the Ray Borda/Jason Thompson combination buoyed for a special performance from Aston Fastnet in the heats of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) on Thursday night.

“He'd never been there so it was a very special trial,” said Ray Borda who bred and owns the son of KC And All and Aston Miley.

Jason Thompson sent the dog north to the Tony Brett kennel for the trial and Aston Fastnet has stayed in Queensland in the lead up to the Cup heats.

But Borda knows only too well the task facing his brilliant young dog.

“I would rather he draw over near the rails (Aston Fastnet has box six),” said Borda. “And coming up against Shima Shine (box seven) is going to be a tough ask as well.

“I have huge respect for Shima Shine which I regard as a great dog.

“My criteria for a dog being great is that they have to have performed at the highest level for a long time. No one can deny that describes Shima Shine.”

But Thompson has been telling Borda for some time that Aston Fastnet will win at the highest level and then become yet another stud dog from the Borda machine.

“The dog is more confident now,” Ray added.

“Unlike our other smart dog Aston Rupee, this bloke has needed time to learn his craft.”

Aston Fastnet has started 17 times for seven wins and three seconds.

He has a 29.11 win at Sandown Park but has trialled sub-29 seconds there as well.

Albion Park will host five heats of the Brisbane Cup and four qualifiers of the Queensland Cup (710m) both at Group 1 level on Thursday night.

Both races are chock-full of quality.

“The thing in Aston Fastnet's favour is that good dogs usually race true so we are hoping he will get a trouble free run throughout,” Borda said.

Borda worries that Aston Fastnet can sometimes not show as much early brilliance as needed.

“When my dogs are educated, I always ask for them to be given trials around a racetrack with a short run to the first turn where we can get a best guide on their first sections,” he added.

“Strength at the finish can always come naturally with training and racing, but first section pace does not.”