“He’s a superstar”

Leigh Sutton was almost star-struck after his drive, Like A Wildfire, reinforced his top speed brilliance with a stunning romp home in harness racing’s Terang Co-Op Pacing Cup on Saturday night.

“He’s a superstar,” the reinsman told TrotsVision after the Emma Stewart trained seven-year-old son of Big Jim produced his 17th victory in only his 46th start, claiming the coveted $50,000 Group 2 amid a terrific night’s trots at Terang.

“I don’t get the opportunity to drive a horse this good. He’s a Grand Circuit horse this horse. I’m sure of it.”

Sutton was speaking in the shadows of the Trots Country Cups Championship win, which looked to be going largely to expectations until the final 1200 metres when a mid-race challenge set the Cup alight.

Demon Delight held the lead with Tango Tara on his outside and Highway To Heaven the only horse behind him on the pegs, with the remainder of the field choosing to stagger in the running line.

That was until Rackemup Tigerpie threatened to move three-wide, which instigated a snowball affect that would see Chris Alford advance on Willie Go West from the one-one.

Alford rounded breeze horse Tango Tara and unsuccessfully challenged Demon Delight for the lead, an uptick in tempo that prompted Sutton to sweep to the pegs for the sprint home.

It would prove a winning move, with Like A Wildfire using the short-cut to beat Phoenix Prince on the line by a neck, with Highway To Heaven a close third.

“It’s a bit different driving this horse,” Sutton said. “Every time I sit behind him I just think of (his former trainer-driver the late) Gavin (Lang) and I idolised the man and he was so great to me when I was growing up.”

And, fittingly, it was a Lang-style winning drive tonight.

“(Like A Wildfire’s) just awesome, it’s hard to explain, because he can just stay as well. When they turned it on at the 1200, I was just cheering them on saying let’s go, because I’ve got the fence here.

“(He’s) so fast, I didn’t get out till 100 metres and I still beat them. He’s just a star, he’s awesome to drive, he’s an old gentleman.”

Sutton may soon get his Grand Circuit wishes realised, with Like A Wildfire expected to make a tilt at the forthcoming Miracle Mile.

“It’s hard to say you are as good as King (Of Swing) and them, but look he’s fast and he’s just gone super. Good milers are great stayers as well. If they went hard they’d know they were in a race with him.”

By Michael Howard for HRV