Siblings Fire On Ice and FireLegend will be out to add another Cup to the mantle of trainer Mark Moroney after the pair won two of the three heats of the Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup at Kennerson Park on Monday afternoon.
It was the sister upstaging her brother with Fire On Ice blasting from box 7, easily crossing her rivals with a slick 4.20s first split, then clocking smart sectionals all the way around the Bathurst circuit, stopping the clock at 29.61s, the time standard of the three heats.
JODIE Lord’s Jax Kade produced a good run to charge home for second and secure a berth in next Friday’s $25,000 to the winner final, as did kennelmate Spritley Ebony in finishing third.
It was a welcome return to form for Fire On Ice who in the middle of last year was considered one of the leading NSW bitches in work. She won a heat, and was just behind the placegetters in the final of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal in July, then clocked a personal best run of 29.64s at Wentworth Park, before winning a heat of the Group 2 Black Top at LADBROKES GARDENS.
But after being injured in the catching pen in the final of the Black Top which was won by Flying Ricciardo, Fire On Ice was off the scene for three months, a racetrack return for the Lismore Cup in late October then thwarted when she came on season.
And since returning to the track she has not produced her best in top company, but all that change as we saw the Fire On Ice of old at Bathurst on Monday.
Her brother was equally impressive. The winner of that Lismore Cup in his sister’s absence last year, didn’t jump as quickly, and had to force his way through to lead at the post the first time running 4.25s to the first split.
But once in front FireLegend was unlikely to be run down, and easily held off his rivals scoring in 29.71s. Second went to last week’s Orange Cup winner Prancing Diva with Aston Sapporo grabbing third, but not fast enough to force his way into the final field.
While the ‘Fire’ sibilings were impressive, so too was the other heat winner, the Mick Hardman-trained Zulu Warlord who - like the other heat winners - was also having his first start at Bathurst.
Coming off a great third behind Wow in the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder Final at Wentworth Park on January 23, Zulu Warlord pinged the lids as usual, posting the fastest first split of the heats, a sizzling 4.19s.
But the dog was then dragged down slightly rounding the first turn by Zipping Vernon and lost some momentum, however he steadied and would soon open up a big lead down the back, going on to score comfortably, also in 29.71s. Second went to Winlock On Top - who was second to Wow in the Paws Of Thunder Final - with Zipping Vernon battling on for third and doing so in a time fast enough to secure a berth in the final.
Unfortunately for spectators and racing fans, that heat was missing 2019 TAB Million Dollar Chase champion Good Odds Harada who was expected to return to racing from a three month spell on stud duties, but a sore hock saw trainer Frank Hurst err on the side of caution and scratch the dog from the heats.
The box draw had set the scene for a mad dash into the first turn in Friday’s final.
The three heats winners all led at the post and they have drawn alongside one another in the final: Zulu Warlord in box 3, Fire On Ice in box 4 and FireLegend in box 5.
Interestingly, of the last 12 winners of the Bathurst Gold Cup, only one, Irinka Luca in 2012 which jumped from box seven, have started wider than box 4.
