Talented New Zealand import Firestorm improved her perfect four-year-old record to two-from-two with another impressive win at Rosehill on Saturday, heading a Kiwi-bred trifecta in the A$160,000 EGroup Protective Services Handicap (1900m).
Firestorm showed promise on both sides of the Tasman as a three-year-old last season, finishing sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) before relocating to Australia and running fourth in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), third in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m), third in the Gr.3 Drinkwise Mile (1600m) and midfield in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
The daughter of Satono Aladdin produced a bold four-year-old debut earlier this month, storming home from the back to win impressively over 1500m at Rosehill. She relished the extra 400m of her second-up assignment on Saturday and delivered more of the same.
Firestorm was ridden patiently by James McDonald, who settled well back in the field before beginning to build her momentum in the straight.
Fellow Kiwi-bred galloper Raf Attack rounded the home turn in front and fought hard all the way down the straight, but then the backmarkers charged at him on both flanks. Firestorm flashed through on his inside, with the favourite Unusual Legacy chiming in wider out.
Firestorm and Unusual Legacy pulled away from the field to fight out a tight finish, with Firestorm snatching a narrow win. Raf Attack held on for third.
“Firestorm has come back really well,” trainer Chris Waller said. “She’s gone to a new level in this preparation. It’s as simple as that.
“She’s been given two nice rides and has scored two nice wins, and she’s going about things the right way.
“I was in two minds today around where she was heading. We were stepping straight up to 1900m second-up, and I was wondering whether that would suit. She certainly put her hand up to say that she can stay.
“We’re running a bit late for the Cups this spring, so we’ve just got to pick out some nice races to meet in the middle and still perhaps give her a chance to get towards something big. We’ll find a nice 2000m race for her next and then see where we’re at.”
Waller was also pleased with the effort of the lightly raced second placegetter Unusual Legacy.
“There was a bit of speed on today and he probably just got left a bit flat-footed,” he said. “Provided he gets in the field, he’ll back up with a light weight in the Metropolitan (Gr.1, 2400m) next Saturday.”
Firestorm was bred and originally owned by Carl Ferguson. She is one of three winners from five foals to race out of the Istidaad mare Dancing Embers, who herself won three races and placed in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) at Riccarton.
Firestorm has had 15 starts for four wins, two placings and A$256,303 in stakes. – NZ Racing Desk.
