Wildfire ready to spark if flight to Queensland takes off

Connections of emerging Victorian harness racing star Like A Wildfire (Big Jim) are sweating on a plane flight to take him north as the “fresh blood” in Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.

The stablemate of champion mare Ladies In Red made it three dominant wins from as many starts this campaign when he thrashed reigning Inter Dominion champion Boncel Benjamin at Ballarat and posted some scintillating times last Saturday night.

“He’s going … if we can get a flight,” co-trainer Emma Stewart said. “He won’t go by road.”

It is a huge vote of confidence from Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin, who had previously dismissed a Queensland raid when stablemates Ladies In Red, Beyond Delight and Maajida headed north earlier this month.

“He’s sort of forced our hand. He’s going so well and was so impressive winning the other night,” Stewart said.

Like A Wildfire will have to overcome a wide draw if travel plans go his way. He’s drawn outside the front (gate seven), but will come into six if emergency Mach Da Vinci doesn’t gain a start.

The biggest winner from the Blacks A Fake barrier draw was Australia’s top pacer Spirit Of St Louis, who snared gate three.

The Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile runner-up had little luck and charged home late along the inside for a closing second to Better Eclipse in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park.

“He’s got the speed to take advantage of a draw like that, so it’s a big help,” co-trainer Luke McCarthy said.

Victoria’s Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) has already enjoyed a fantastic trip north with a second to Ladies In Red in the Rising Sun and last week’s powerhouse Sunshine Sprint win.

He will need some luck from a tricky inside back row draw (gate eight) to add a Blacks A Fake win this week.

The key runner at the start is former top-class Kiwi and now Queensland-trained Turn It Up (Courage Under Fire), who led easily in the Sunshine Sprint last week and may cross them all again from barrier six on Saturday night.

But driver Shane Graham likes to take a sit, especially in longer races, so the race will be on from the likes of Spirit Of St Louis (Sweet Lou), Majestic Cruiser (Art Major) (gate four) and Like A Wildfire to be first to Turn It Up and push for the front.

Classy veteran Alta Orlando (Courage Under Fire), one of three runners for Team McCarthy in the race, is the other key player as far as gate speed. He’s drawn two and flies the starting gate.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Newscorp