Wildfire ready to light up Queensland

Like A Wildfire (Big Jim) may have booked himself a ticket to harness racing’s Queensland Winter Carnival with a stunning final sprint at Ballarat on Saturday (Jul.16)  that secured a third straight win.

Reinsman Allan McDonough said the 16-metre win, created with a 26.4-second last quarter, would only further fuel plans for a tilt at the $355,000 TAB The Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship.

“There’s a slight possibility that he may head to Queensland next week,” McDonough told TrotsVision.

“Clayton (Tonkin) and (trainer) Emma (Stewart) thought if he went good tonight there was a possibility he may head up for the Blacks A Fake next week.”

He couldn’t have done much more at Ballarat on Saturday night, initially crossed by Boncel Benjamin but then able to work to the front and take control of the single-file race.

McDonough followed a 30.8-second first quarter with a 32.2 second and from there it was a dash home, with a 54.6-second last half giving the chasers little hope.

Reigning Inter Dominion champion Boncel Benjamin was next best, 16 metres behind the winner, with Shortys Mate narrowly beating Rackemup Tigerpie to finish third.

LIKE A WILDFIRE REPLAY

The Power Security Pace win made it three from three for Like A Wildfire since returning from a freshen up, having previously beat Triple Eight and Supreme Dominator to win the Italian Cup at Melton and then returned to Tabcorp Park a fortnight later to outpoint Better Eclipse, Triple Eight and Supreme Dominator.

“His form’s been impeccable,” McDonough said. “He doesn’t work much better than a C4 horse really, but he’s just a great little racehorse. He’s got the gate speed, he settles, he spears up. Once I ask him to go he’s got such great point-to-point speed.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Howard, for HRV