By Alex Nolan
He’s On Fire could give trainer Kev Murnane one of his most satisfying moments in greyhound racing, if he qualifies for next week’s Gold Bullion Final in Thursday’s fifth heat at Albion Park.
Murnane recently nursed He’s On Fire back from a groin injury that threatened to end his career.
The Helidon trainer has already taken great satisfaction out of seeing the dog return to racing.
In between working casual shifts at EC Stevedoring, sometimes overnight after attending race meetings earlier in the evening, Murnane has been mapping out a preparation to get the noted early speedster back to the top of his game.
He knew his planning and efforts were on the right path when the one-time Million Dollar Chase place getter bounced back to winning form last start in the Australia Day Trophy Final at Albion Park.
In conjunction with He’s On Fire’s owner and Adelaide trainer Tim Richards, Murnane started the dog over the shorter courses at Ipswich and Albion Park before stepping him up to 520 metres.
“When he had those two 431 metre starts at Ipswich it was not the ideal start for him but the reason he was put in there, and it sounds silly, was to get knocked around a little bit,” Murnane explained.
“He’s never had that happen to him because, and you’ll see it in all his replays, he’s off and gone out of those boxes.”
Stepping up to the 520 metres earlier this month, He’s On Fire showed blistering early speed at his first two attempts but was found wanting late with fitness yet to come.
Murnane was buoyed when the dog showed some fight late last week, after running a lightning 4.42-second first split, being headed, then fighting back to down Hopeful Bill by a short margin in 30.19 seconds.
He’ll now line up from box four as a $21 chance with TAB in the fifth and final heat of the Bullion, which features one of the series favourites, Respectability in box eight.
“He’s only now running into fitness,” Murnane said.
“I had to work on him seven days per week and now he’s heading in the right direction.
“He ran 30.19 seconds last week, which I don’t think was too bad, the dogs in the match races were running fast times but his time was good when you compare it to the other races.
“I like how he fought it out, too. It showed he’s a changed dog and that he can come back from behind now.
“Where he did lack that bit at the finish, he’s got some grit and determination now.
“I don’t back them, I’m just happy with the prize money but I would say he’s the wrong price.
“He’s got speed, he holds his line and runs straight. I would say he’s five or six dollars over the mark.”
He’s On Fire has done a couple of stints in Murnane’s kennel, including last year’s winter carnival where he went on to win the TAB Lightning Final over 331 metres.
He then returned to South Australia and won four in a row at the Murray Bridge Straight track, including the South Australian Straight Track Championship.
After placing third in the National Straight Track Final at Richmond, he was given a crack at a Million Dollar Chase heat and got within one length of downing star chaser She’s A Pearl.
He then placed second in a semi-final, before giving them all a fright when leading for most of the $1 million to-the-winner Final, taken out by McInerney.
It was around then that a groin niggle developed into a more serious injury, one that threatened to end the dog’s promising career before his third birthday, which happens to be this Saturday.
“Tim was going to keep him down there and try and resurrect him before sending him back up for the Bullion,” Murnane said.
“But, I said ‘send him up here and at least I’ll know what work has gone into him recovery-wise as we try and get him back to the track’.
“It was touch and go for a while but he’s heading in the right direction and he looks really good.
“He’s in good condition after last week’s run and he’ll strip fitter again on Thursday night. He’s proved that with each run because his sectional splits up the back have improved each time.
“If we get a decent track and with his speed out of the boxes, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t lead on Thursday night. His confidence is through the roof.
“He hadn’t run 520 metres in four months when he contested the Million Dollar Chase. If he gets through this week he’ll have had five runs over the trip and that should be perfect for him.”