The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday drew a full field of 16 with a myriad of different formlines, but in the end why go past the obvious – Chris Waller, James McDonald and a Snitzel colt with a debut win on the board!
A $460,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Yarraman Park draft for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership / Tony Fung Colts, Fireball scored a debut win at Rosehill last November and was immediately given a break with autumn in mind.
With a tune up trial last month, Fireball was ready to run well albeit with improvement to come and with a good ride from McDonald he delivered the goods.
The colt settled back in the field with cover and found clear running at the perfect time half way down the straight to let loose his powerful finish.
Fireball ran through the line winning by three-quarters of a length over the Ciaron Maher trained filly Ghana’s Akan (Street Boss (USA) with Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview winner Alibaba a late closing third.
Chris Waller will now plot a path towards the Golden Slipper for Fireball.
“He’ll head to the Golden Slipper, although not through the Silver Slipper as we have a couple of others for that, but it won’t be far after that,” he said.
“His first win was very special and then again today. We were a little bit concerned about taking on a 16 horse field, whether he’d be up to that type of pressure, but James made it look easy.”
James McDonald was not convinced Fireball was seasoned enough for such a high pressure race, but was pleasantly surprised.
Fireball is now two wins from two starts with prizemoney of $1.2million.
Fireball was bred by Michael O’Keeffe and foaled and raised at Yarraman Park. He is the second foal and first winner from Advance Party, a winning Charge Forward grand-daughter of Group II winner Countess Christie, the dam of stakes-winner I Have No Fear.
Advance Party has a yearling filly by Dundeel that will be offered in the Yarraman Park draft at Inglis Classic as Lot 614 on Tuesday.
Advance Party produced a filly by Maurice (Jpn) last spring and was then covered by In The Congo.
Fireball is the 167th stakes-winner for the much missed champion sire Snitzel.
