Tim Walker | Photo: PACEPIX
Rolling Fire will be out to make it back-to-back wins when he lines up in tonight’s Christmas In July Book Now Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
The Justin Prentice-trained pacer was too classy in his most recent outing, coming from last to beat Soho Moonraker.
He takes on a small but select field in tonight’s $30,000 event, including the consistent Im The Black Flash, Alcopony and Arma Xfactor.
Prentice said now was the right time to test Rolling Fire in Free-For-All company.
“He’s in really good form and it was an impressive win last start,” Prentice told Racing WA Harness.
“He hasn’t won too many times like he did last start.
“It gets hard for him this week though, having his first go at Free-For-All and draws eight in a stronger field.”
Trent Wheeler drives Rolling Fire for the first time since last December’s Golden Nugget (2536m), when he finished fourth to subsequent Nullarbor winner Mister Smartee.
The gelding will start from barrier seven tonight, with main rival Im The Black Flash getting the draw advantage in four.
Prentice said he would leave it up to Wheeler on how to overcome the draw.
“Trent drove him in the Nugget and he didn’t do anything wrong in those races,” he said.
“We will leave it up to Trent and if the speed tells him to put him into it, then he can do that.”
Prentice will also be represented by Jawsoflincoln in the field of eight.
The six-year-old was unplaced behind Talks Up A Storm last week and will have to overcome the outside draw tonight.
Prentice said he was a little underwhelmed by last week’s performance.
“I expected him to go well last start and he was a little bit disappointing,” he said.
“I expected him to let down when the gap opened up.
“He’s going to need a good run from out there.”
Meanwhile, Prentice’s stable stars Mighty Ronaldo and Never Ending are both set to resume racing in the next month.