There is just no stopping the bold chestnut Burning Front who at Morphettville on Adelaide Cup Day added a third stakes win to his already impressive record.
Sent out an odds-on favourite in the Listed C.S Hayes Memorial, the Darren Weir trained six-year-old travelled sweetly as always for Damian Lane who had him prominent throughout.
Cruising at the turn, Burning
Front hit the lead early in the straight and, when briefly challenged on his
inside, he fought hard and kicked hard - soft to the line recording the 16th
success of his remarkable 45 start career.
The winner of his last five including a second Gr.3 Carlyon Cup (in which he defeated subsequent Australian Cup winner Humidor), Burning Front has amassed over $940,000 in stakes - an amount usually only won by Group One performers.
Over $323,000 of Burning Front's winnings have been Super VOBIS bonuses, making him not only this season's leading VOBIS horse but also the second most successful bonus earning horse of all time!
Former stablemate Trust In A Gust is the leading earner but there is more to come with Burning Front who is being set for another big VOBIS race at Caulfield on April 22.
Should he win that - and he is bound to be a short priced favourite to do so - his VOBIS earnings will surpass those of Trust In A Gust.
"It is an honour to be associated with this wonderful horse," enthused his breeder and part owner Justin Lovatt, "he just keeps raising the bar and we know every time we take him to the races we are going to be cheering him on at some stage."
Prior to taking some of Adelaide's money, Burning Front had won the VOBIS Gold El Dorado at Wangaratta - racing clear by four lengths under the steadier of 60kg having dropped back from a mile to 1300m.
Regular rider Brad Rawiller was aboard that day and was as always full of praise for the horse - "one of his best assets is his first two strides, he is so quick out of the gates."
"But he doesn't have to lead, the beauty of him is that he is no one-trick pony... but he really kicks into gear when he gets into the straight." - Kristen Manning
