Smart Kiwi four-year-old mare Firestorm snared a well-deserved Group Two victory when getting the better of her rivals in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Prepared by Chris Waller and ridden by Jason Collett, Firestorm was resuming from a spell and got the better of her rivals late to defeat Dark Glitter and stablemate Scarlet Oak.
The daughter of Satono Aladdin commenced her career in New Zealand when prepared by Paul Mirabelli and finished sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) before joining Waller.
She has subsequently won four races for Waller and had been around the mark in stakes company, finishing 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).
Firestorm has now only been beaten once fresh-up and Waller is keen to focus on sprint-mile distances.
“Each time she’s stepped out first up basically she’s won,” Waller said.
“It was a lovely ride from Jason, she was well prepared for the race today, two trials and we expected her to show something but to win a Group Two it was quite a step up.
“It puts a lot of value on her. She has come back really well.
“It was a lovely patient ride from Jason. There wasn’t a lot of speed. He didn’t panic and got her out at the right time.
“I don’t think she gets too far. Maybe she gets a mile, but beyond that I wouldn’t, so I think now we have learnt to keep her a bit shorter and sharper, probably a race like the Coolmore Classic (Gr.1, 1500m) will suit.”
Firestorm was bred and originally owned by Carl Ferguson and is by Rich Hill Stud’s boom sire Satono Aladdin, becoming the stallion’s 11th Southern Hemisphere bred stakes winner from just 88 runners or a remarkable 12.5 percent stakes winners to runners.
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.
Now the winner of five of her 19 starts, Firestorm has amassed A$441,803 in prizemoney and sports the colours of for bus transport magnate Glenn Ritchie, who recently purchased the regally-bred yearling full-sister to glamour mare Orchestral for $2.4 million at Karaka. – NZ Racing Desk
