EF DEC 15 - FIFI FIRES UP AGAIN

By Graham Potter | Saturday, December 15, 2012

Eagle Farm, December 15, 2012.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Just Now Quality (Fillies & Mares) - 1300m.
1 FIRE UP FIFI; 2 Jester's Girl; 3 Amalfi Dreams; 4 Fillydelphia.
Time: 1-15.77. Last 600: 35.22.
Margins: 0.20; 0.20.

FIRE UP FIFI (5 gr m Bradburys Luck - Manicured)
Owner: G Billinghurst. Trainer: Robert Heathcote. Breeder: Mrs B Cathcart.

The grey has now landed four wins from her last six starts over distances ranging from 1300m to 1800, results which underline her commitment while also highlighting just how versatile she is. Her record now reads nine wins from twenty-two starts with six minor placings. Stake earnings stand at $245 925.

TRAINER ROBERT HEATHCOTE:
“I really liked her first-up run the other day over 1200m. While the race didn’t really work out for the back-markers, I really liked the way she hit the line.

“After that run the owner was a little disappointed but I said, don’t worry about that … it was a lovely run.

“My goal all along has been the Bernborough. Today’s result has been a little bonus. I hope the handicapper will be kind to us because she looked like getting into the Bernborough on the minimum and I hope that is still the case … maybe a kilo over.

“I ran second in the Bernborough last year with Fillydelphia. Fillydelphia, in fact, was desperately unlucky behind her stable companion today. She finished fourth. If she had got out, she would have made it very interesting at the line.

“She ran second in the Bernborough. She got beaten a nose … and both her and little Fifi will go on to the Bernborough now.

JOCKEY RYAN WIGGINS:
“She is just a trier, you know. She is one of those horses that gives you a real good buzz.

“She goes out there and … you know what? It was probably too short for her.

“They kept on putting her up as favourite. Her run was good enough the other day, but I still thought she needed a couple of hundred more metres.

“But, I tell you what! At the 600 it was just a matter of getting out. I just had to bide my time a bit.

“Like I said, she tries hard and she is a well-deserved winner of a Listed race.

“I think you’ll see her even better going up over the Bernborough distance. She is a better horse over that sort of distance.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:

Winner (Fire Up Fifi): 4.60 out to 4.80. Started Equal favourite.
Equal Favourite (Risk Aversion): 5.00 in to 4.80. Finished sixth.
Equal Favourite (Funtantes): 5.00 in to 4.80. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Bingo Rose, which lost its footing in the horse stall area and fell over, was examined by the veterinary surgeon and passed suitable to race.

Purfectress (G. Cooksley) jumped inwards at the start, resulting in Rose Of Scotland (L. Cassidy) having to be checked after being tightened for room between Purfectress and Funtantes (D. Browne).

Passing the 300m, Fillydelphia (M. Cahill) was disappointed for a run between Jester's Girl (P. Hammersley) and Funtantes (D. Browne) and as a result had to be steadied from the heels of Jester's Girl (P. Hammersley).

Approaching the finish line, Rose Of Scotland (L. Cassidy) had to be severely checked after improving up on to the heels of Funtantes (D. Browne), which was tiring. In this incident, Rose Of Scotland clipped heels and blundered in this incident.

K. Matheson, rider of Clam Chowder, dropped his whip near the 300m.

Apprentice T. Harrison advised that she was instructed to ride Ervbefel in a forward position and accordingly she rode aggressively in the early stages on the mare. She added that Ervbefel, after reaching the lead, raced ungenerously and refused to settle through the middle stages despite her efforts. The explanation was noted.

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