Moroney looking for a fire performance

By Josh Spasaro

Goldmine Fire has a chance to break out of the shadow of his record-breaking litter sister, Firethorn, starting with the Gold Cup heats on Thursday night.

Firethorn never looked like being beaten when she crossed the line in a track-best 40.88 seconds at Q2 Parklands on October 2 last year.

Both impressive stayers are by Wow and out of Sweet Fire All.

Grafton-based conditioner Mark Moroney also trained Sweet Fire All to nine wins from 60 starts.

The exciting thing is both are not yet three years old, with their birthdays on March 7.

While Firethorn is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury, Goldmine Fire has some similar traits and will be one to look out for in the Gold Cup series.

“Along the way there hasn’t been a lot between them,” Moroney said.

“The Stayers’ Cup at Grafton last July, Goldmine Fire beat Firethorn by half-a-head. That’s the major staying race of the year at the July carnival. They just dominated the race and tore away from the rest of the field.

“There hasn’t been a lot between them. Just Firethorn when she went to The Q and started racing over 700 metres, she grew another leg.

“To run 40.88 seconds, they don’t get anywhere near that now. If they run 41.4 or 41.5 seconds, they’re going pretty good, even though it’s a long way off the track record.

“She was nearly unbeatable. She hurt an Achilles a couple of months ago and she’s just on the comeback trail now.”

Moroney believes Goldmine Fire is building nicely as a stayer.

The two-year-old red fawn dog finished in a time of 41.52 seconds over 710 metres at Q2 Parklands last Thursday.

Golden Sands Final runner-up Jay Walking saluted in a time of 41.40 seconds for Churchable trainer Jamie Hosking, in what was an excellent effort starting over 710 metres for the first time.

Moroney was pleased with Goldmine Fire’s effort, beating Autumn Storm’s effort of 41.65 seconds for Tom Tzouvelis in the Clem Jones Cup Final, in what was the next race on the program.

“He’s got a couple of 700 metre races under his belt leading up to it. That was what I wanted to do,” he said.

“He actually ran a personal best of 41.52 seconds the other night, which was quicker than the top race of the night.

“He’s always been a fairly good dog. He’s lived in his sister’s shadow, Firethorn, all his life But, he’ll be going in it (Gold Cup heats) for sure.”

While Moroney was also impressed with Jay Walking’s effort, he believes he has a chaser – with 17 wins from 47 starts – who can match it with the fast-developing Queensland stayer.

“He (Jay Walking) went fantastic running 41.40 seconds first go. That’s a pretty good run,” the Northern New South Wales conditioner said.

“But, my bloke is pretty seasoned now. He doesn’t turn three till March. He’s been to Wentworth Park over 700 and he’s won a few good races along the way.

“He holds the track record at Taree over 500 metres. He’s normally a pretty reliable dog, Goldmine Fire. He does a lot of things right. He usually begins pretty good, runs it out strong and he’s been a pretty good dog over the past 12 months.

“Without A Trace is probably the dog. If she comes up, she’s going to be the dog to beat in the series.”

Moroney has previously described Goldmine Fire’s dam, Sweet Fire All, as a “dour” stayer.

But, she also never gave up on the track, before providing him with many talented chasers.

“She’s got a really good dam line. She’s out of (Moroney’s former chaser) Tick Away Fire. And, the next litter after her we got Fire Legend, who won 54 races," he said. 

“He’s at stud now and two of his pups have won here at Grafton (Fire And Gravy and Soul Of Fire on Sunday night).

“Sweet Fire All has got the family behind her. She was dour and had no speed at all.

“But, she could run all day and a lot of her pups seem to have this speed in them, as well as being stayers. She’s been a fantastic producer.”

In her two litters, Sweet Fire All threw four individual track records holders – two in each litter.

“Jeremiah Fire holds the Grafton 600 metre record. And, She Is Fire holds the Casino 620 metre record,” Moroney said.

“That’s the first litter. And, this litter, Firethorn holds the record at The Q over 710 metres. Goldmine Fire holds the Taree 500 metre record.

“Out of two litters, to get four individual track-record holders is a pretty good effort.

“I think there are four in the litter who have won over $100,000 in prizemoney in the Wow litter. That’s sensational to get four in the litter.”

Moroney is hoping Firethorn is not far off making a track return.

“She was nearly unbeatable. She hurt at Achilles a couple of months ago and she’s just on the comeback trail now,” he said.

“She’s missed a lot of good races, so she’s on the way back now. She went to Melbourne and got picked in the Topgun Stayers field at The Meadows.

“She drew box one and came on season the day after the draw. So, we brought her home and let her have her season. And, then in the third trial back she hurt her Achilles.

“And, she’s been out for about seven weeks since she hurt it. So, I’ll probably give her another week before I slip her somewhere.

“But, she’s had a lot of time off, I’m hoping she comes back from it. It looks like she probably will. But, until we run her, we don’t really know.”

Moroney added Goldmine Fire’s sister, Firebird, just missed being ready for the Gold Cup series.

“It’s just a shame I haven’t quite got Firebird ready. She had to have a few weeks off,” he said.

“I trialled her up there before the meeting last week and she ran 29.70 seconds over the 500 metres. But, she’s just not quite ready for a 700 metre race. Another week I probably would’ve had her in it. So, she probably won’t be in it, I’d say.

“She won a Group 3 race on the Q1 over 640 metres (on November 6). So, the whole litter has got a lot of ability and they’re all strong. They can all stay.”

The Group 1 Gold Cup Final, worth $150,000, will be at Q2 Parklands on February 5.