Star Siblings Lead Borda's Launching Pad Charge

OWNER Ray Borda sends two star youngsters, littermates Aston Rupee and Aston Fastnet into the Launching Pad at Sandown, a series he likens to thoroughbred racing's Golden Slipper.

The $420,000 Launching Pad gets underway with heats at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

“Yes, very excited about their chances,” said Borda.

Aston Rupee, winner of five races and $41,000, is a 29.47 winner at The Meadows and 29.25 winner at Sandown.

Glenn Rounds trains him for Borda.

Aston Fastnet, winner of three races at his three most recent starts, comes off a last-start 29.11 win at Sandown.

Jason Thompson trains him.

Borda is singing the praises of their dam Aston Miley (Barcia Bale-Aston Elle), a litter sister to superstar and now leading stud dog Aston Dee Bee.

“She was a wonderful race bitch but no one ever saw the best of her,” he said.

“She had a toe removed and it caused her problems from them on. But, she still ran third in a Geelong Cup and was a finalist in a Melbourne Cup and Warragul Cup.”

Her first litter, by Brett Lee, was outstanding with three group performers.

As well as this current Kc And All litter she has an 11 month old litter by Fernando Bale, three dogs and three bitches, and has just been mated to Collision.

For her final mating she will go to Aston Kimetto.

Of Aston Rupee and Aston Fastnet, Borda says both dogs have trialled under five seconds for the first section at Sandown Park and he hopes they can reproduce that during the Launching Pad series.

“We actually have another dog from the litter called Aston Gigante who is almost 40 kilos and out with some slight problems at the moment, but he is almost as good as his brothers,” said Borda.

Aston Fastnet took time to work out the art of racing when first put into work by Thompson.

“He was like a three-year-old racehorse trying to race as a two-year-old,” he said.

“But Jason gave him six weeks off after his first few starts and he has come back unbeaten in three starts since.”

At his second start in a Warragul maiden Aston Fastnet finished 4 1/2 lengths second to a rampaging Silver Lake, pre-post favourite for the Launching Pad.