Like A Wildfire reminded on a big stage that he is a horse of formidable talent with a dominant win in tonight's TAB The Pure Steel.
Effectively the repechage for horses outside of the Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup field, Like A Wildfire sat in the breeze and powered clear for a cushy 4.6-metre win to build on his encouraging race-track comeback.
“He’s very underrated and I think when he gets up into that top echelon or into the good country cups he’s going to be very dangerous,” reinsman David Moran said.
The hit-out was Like A Wildfire’s third for trainer Emma Stewart since returning from a nine-month lay-off, which have now produced two wins and a fourth placing.
Moran was quick to put him into the race tonight in the middle-distance affair, lobbing to the breeze outside Our Millionaire amid a modest 44.8sec lead time and 31.sec first quarter.
The pair had plenty in the tank for the run to the line, getting home in 54.7sec for the last half to score ahead of Boy From Bondi, Tango Tara and Torrid Saint.
Post-race Clayton Tonkin, partner of trainer Emma Stewart, said it was further evidence that Like A Wildfire “would’ve acquitted himself well (in the Hunter Cup), but his run was super tonight”.
He said the seven-year-old would get his Grand Circuit chance at Menangle in coming months.
“I’m going to take him to Sydney for the sprint lead-up races to the (Miracle) Mile, that will just give him his opportunity and we’ll see how he goes.”
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