Bat Sign's Early Pace Has Him A Golden Hope

A SCORCHING 9.66 first section and the coveted rails draw has given local hope Bat Sign the chance to extend Steve and Hassel Rolph's Group success when he takes on Thursday night's Group 1 Golden Sands (600m) at Albion Park.

Bat Sign (Zambora Brockie-Shilo) came off the eight box to win his heat last week in 34.97 beating Pursuer by half-a-length.

His flying first section saw him open up an eight-length lead going through the catching pen.

Steve Rolph, and his dad Hassel, have had Group success in the past with Santino Marella (G3 Qld Cup) and Potsdam (G3 Ipswich Cup). They are never without a better than handy race dog.

Bat Sign runs for the winner's purse of a cool $100,000.

Ray Webster expects veteran galloper Father Rick to improve on his heat win in 35.05 and be hard to toss in his first Group 1 final.

The veteran of 75 starts and now four years old, he has won 26 and been placed 19 times for stakes of $195,000.

“He had only been to Albion Park once before and that was back in June when we flew him north and he ran last behind Kelsey Bale (in a Brisbane Cup Prelude),” said Ray.

“But he did not take to the flight well at all and when we got him home he had lost 2.5 kilos.

“Which is why we drove him to Brisbane last week for the heat and the result was there to see.”

Webster says the Golden Sands final is as tough a race as could be expected for a Group 1 final.

“It is a most even field, probably 4-1 the field,” he said.

He believes Bat Sign will lead out early but says Father Rick can run some amazing early sections of his own.

Father Rick's heat win was his first start since getting a start as a reserve in the G3 Dillon Memorial at Sandown which he won by three lengths on December 2.