Rivals renew hostilities in Dashing Corsair Final

By Josh Spasaro

The next battle between Goldstar Prada and Firethorn is sure to be compelling viewing in the Dashing Corsair Final at Q1 Lakeside on Thursday night.

While Riley Evans’ consistent stayer has got the better of the Wow and Sweet Fire All chaser in their past three clashes, Firethorn is just starting to hit her peak for this week’s Group 3 assignment worth $45,000 and over 642 metres.

“We’ve met on a few occasions, actually. There’s a bit of a battle on between her and us,” Firethorn’s trainer Mark Moroney said.

“They’re like chalk and cheese the way they race. Firethorn likes to get to the front and break up fields.

“Whereas, Goldstar Prada can drop out behind them and fly home. They’ve come up against each other a few times.”

Goldstar Prada beat Firethorn by a length in their last clash over 710 metres at Q2 Parklands on May 21, but Firethorn convincingly led for most of the way.

The daughter of Federal Morgan and Goldstar Journey flashed home inside the final 30 metres to salute.

"On the Q2, she (Firethorn) led right to the line before being run down by Goldstar Prada,” Moroney said.

“That was her first 710 metre run for a long while. Her next run came in the heats of the Dashing Corsair."

Goldstar Prada won in similar fashion in the Breast Cancer Cup Final over 642 metres at Q1 Lakeside on October 23 last year, displaying a rapid turn of foot late to beat Firethorn by a length on the line.

Thursday night will be just Firethorn’s eighth start back from a six-month layoff.

She will jump from box seven, while Goldstar Prada has drawn box four.

Firethorn has won three races since her eye-catching track return on April 14 and Moroney believes she has built her form nicely going into the Dashing Corsair Final.

“She won first-up at Grafton and nearly broke the track record over the 450 metres (on April 14),” the experienced NSW conditioner said.

“She ran 24.93 seconds. The record is 24.90 seconds. Obviously, she’s a stayer, so for a stayer to run that was incredible.

"It just took her a few runs. She won again the next week, but it took her three or four starts over the trip to really get back to her best.

“I knew she still had it because of those runs at Grafton her first two runs back.”

Moroney said Firethorn was doing her late dam, Sweet Fire All, proud.

Sweet Fire All only won nine races from 59 starts, but her record as a dam has been outstanding.

Firethorn, Goldmine Fire, Firebird, Apache Tiger, She Is Fire and Jeremiah Fire have all gone on to earn over $100,000 each, with Jeremiah Fire now approaching $200,000 in career stakes.

“She only had the two litters. Jeremiah Fire holds the Grafton 600 metre record and She Is Fire holds the Casino 600 metre record,” Moroney said.

“Goldmine Fire holds the record at Taree over 525 metres. And, Firethorn held both distance records at The Q for a long time.

“It’s been a fabulous line for 30 years, but it just seems to be getting better.”

She Is Fire is now showing plenty of potential as a broodbitch.

“We’re breeding from She Is Fire now. She’s had her first litter and she was a real superstar and every bit as good as Firethorn,” Moroney said.

“She’s got a litter eight months old by Bernardo and she’s just had another litter by One Time Only. They’re only two weeks old.

“I never have any trouble selling them. I have people ringing me from all over Australia when they find out one of my bitches is in pup.

“She was a fantastic race bitch. She was a lid pinger and could run 700 metres. She could run it like a sprinter.

“She used to just fly out and get eight or 10 in front in distance races.”