Father Patrick colt claims Need For Speed Final

The Jayne Davies trained Commodus was a dominant all-the-way winner of the Group 1 Need For Speed Prince Final at Melton on Saturday night.

Backed as if unbeatable, the Father Patrick 3-year-old had the race in his safe keeping as soon as he held the lead off the gate, running out a comfortable winner in the end by just over two lengths in a slick 1:56.8 mile rate.

It was the colt’s sixth career win and his second at Group 1 level, with Saturday’s prizemoney taking his earnings to $130,400.

Bred by Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd, Commodus is out of the unraced Muscle Hill mare American Jewel.

Father Patrick over Muscle Hill mares has been a particularly potent cross in recent years with it also producing the best age group trotters in New Zealand this season in Meant To Be and the unbeaten juvenile Duchess Maria.