Age
Of Fire's Sydney campaign has been confirmed and he will head across the Tasman
next week.
The Fastnet Rock colt's trip was sealed by his effort to come from last to
finish third over 1400m at Matamata last Saturday, his first appearance since
he won the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) in January.
"Under the circumstances it was a very good run, it was hard to make up
ground," said Jamie Richards, who trains with Stephen Autridge.
"He'll go over on Monday with the Randwick Guineas his first target and then
hopefully on to the Rosehill Guineas and the Derby."
Age Of Fire has won three of his seven starts and also finished runner-up in
the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring.
Meanwhile, the stable has two trial winners on debut at Pukekohe Park on
Wednesday.
Paulownia will run in the Platinum Rentals Maiden (1200m) with Opie Bosson to
ride her and he will also be aboard In A Twinkling in the Haunui Farm 2YO
(1200m).
Owned by Coolmore, Paulownia is a sister to the Group One winner and producer
Foxwedge.
"She's three from three at the trials and she was our 1000 Guineas filly, but
she got hurt in the winter," Richards said. "She had a paddock accident that
held us up.
"In A Twinkling is a nice type and his trial the other day gave us confidence."
The Fastnet Rock gelding won a 1000m heat at Taupo where he beat the Murray
Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Lady Lira, a solid debut fifth in Saturday's
Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m).
"He'll run well and he's going to develop into a nice staying three-year-old,"
Richards said. "He was gelded after his first trial and that's helped him." – NZ
Racing Desk.