After pleasing with her recent debut fourth at Sandown, Ciaron Maher sent his 2yo Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Crown Of Fire north for her second start, capturing the lucrative $100,000 Robrick Lodge Handicap (1550m) on the Kensington track on Wednesday.
In the small field of just six runners it was the Chris Waller trained pair of 3yo fillies Claudell and Artgirl that jumped away the favoured runners with Crown Of Fire well supported on the third line of betting.
With Tim Clark in the saddle, Crown Of Fire jumped to the lead from the inside gate before Brad Widdup’s Ironblood Empress took over and settled a length and a half clear.
As the small field headed into the home turn, Crown Of Fire appeared to be under some pressure as Clark asked her for an effort, while those back in the field were attempting to make up ground.
Fighting back strongly and regaining the lead at the 300m mark, Crown Of Fire started to assert her authority and while the Waller pair were working home, there was too much ground to make up.
Scoring by a tick over three parts of a length, Crown Of Fire defeated the James McDonald ridden Flying Artie filly Artgirl with David Payne’s 50/1 race outsider Gold Globe back in third.
“I thought it was a good ride by Tim,” said trainer Ciaron Maher who was on course for the run. “You know, took a bit of luck out of it going forward."
"I knew up to the trip would be no problem at all and you can see coming around the turn how green and new she was, especially first time this way going. But the good money on offer. It was certainly worth a roll of the stumps.
When asked had he put a lot of extra work into the filly to handle the step up in trip, Maher said no.
“It was just basically all on ability, because it's not that long a turnaround (between runs). Especially with the trip up as well, we didn't have a lot of time. So, you can see she's basically done that just on raw ability, but no, it was a good result.
As for where she heads next, Maher indicated they will assess once they get her home.
“She's still coming on,” said Maher. “She's got a bit of a winter coat on her but she's going to be up early. So, I'd say we might raise the bar a little bit more, maybe give her another run, or we could reset for something maybe a bit higher later in the spring.”
Riding the filly for the first time, Clark was suitable impressed by her effort.
“I think she's quite progressive, still learning her craft, but I thought it was a good effort to jump in trip, switch states for a really inexperienced filly.
“She was very strong through the line.
“As I said, she really wants to please you. The talent's there, just as I said she’s still learning her race craft, but Ciaron will nurture her and she'll get there in the end.”
Purchased for $250,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Carlaw Park draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1, the Swettenham Stud bred Crown Of Fire is the first runner, and winner out of the imported Siyouni mare Princess Siyouni (IRE), a half-sister to Listed winner Frenzified.
Interestingly, the third dam of this filly is the unraced Singspiel mare Liberetto (IRE), herself the dam of Godolphin’s dual G1 winner Colette (Hallowed Crown) and the Listed winner Metastasio (Street Cry), who is in turn the dam of G1 All Aged Stakes and G1 Golden Rose winner Beiwacht (Bivouac), who we will see resume in the coming weeks.
With just two days left of the current racing season, Crown Of Fire becomes the tenth southern hemisphere 2yo winner this season from 28 runners for Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) who will stand the upcoming season at fee of $275,000 (inc. GST) alongside his multiple G1-winning son Broadsiding who will stand for $55,000 (inc. GST).
