Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Maddison Brown’s disappointment at setting the pace with Ifeel Sikdarl and Fifty Five Reborn and being overhauled in the final couple of strides and being beaten narrowly early in the program at Gloucester Park on Friday night was alleviated when she drove Firerockfireroll to victory in the Perth’s Newest Station, Smooth FM Pace.
The Michael Young-trained Firerockfireroll was the $3.70 second fancy in the 2503m standing-start event in which the gelding’s stablemate Cooper was favourite at $2.75.
Firerockfireroll’s task was made easier when Cooper, having his first start after a spell, reared at the start and lost three lengths, which enabled $21 chance Deeorse to jump straight to the front. Brown got Firerockfireroll away smoothly from the 10m mark.
After the tardy start Gary Hall Jnr sent Cooper forward to challenge strongly for the lead. However, Deeorse withstood the challenge, and Hall then was able to angle Cooper to the pegs and sit behind the pacemaker.
Brown drove patiently and was able to position Firerockfireroll in the favourable one-out, one-back position. Firerockfireroll was switched three wide 700m from home and he dashed to the front with 420m to travel. He went on to win comfortably from Aussie Scooter ($4.20), rating 2.2.5, with smart final quarters of 28.7sec. and 28.5sec.
“It wasn’t a surprise to see him win,” said Young. “The breeze horse Hesacharmer ($151) was probably going to drop out, and Deeorse also was likely to wilt. So, Firerockfireroll was always going to get the swoop on them. Cooper had his chance to zip, but I still thought he went good enough, considering how hard he went early, trying to get a spot. And he was also racing first-up.”
Cooper battled on along the inside to finish a close-up fourth. Firerockfireroll, a Victorian-bred five-year-old by Courage Under Fire, has earned $107,739 from 11 wins and nine placings from 32 starts. His nine WA starts have resulted in three wins and a second placing.
Thirty-three minutes after winning with Firerockfireroll, Brown had to be content with another very close second placing when $8 chance Moonlite Drive finished determinedly to lose by a half-head to Ima Rockabilly Rebel.