Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
South Australian-bred pacer Rolling Fire gave further proof that he will be a leading contender for the $200,000 Golden Nugget on December 13 when he cruised to an impressive victory in the $25,000 Remembering Josh Dunn Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“There’s not a lot for him until the end of the year,” said trainer Justin Prentice. “We will just tick him over with the main aim being the Nugget as well as the other feature events for four-year-olds. Whenever he’s been in important races, he has always gone super. He will follow good speed all day.”
Rolling Fire was the $3.30 second favourite in Friday night’s event in which he began from the No. 6 barrier. With Arma Xfactor the $2.15 favourite being trapped three wide early from barrier five after being beaten for early pace by Dominus Factum and Eldaytona, and then being restrained to the rear, Emily Suvaljko was able to settle Rolling Fire in the one-out, one-back position.
Acharne Girl ($4.80) took the lead after 350m, and she was in front by a couple of lengths in the back straight the final time. Rolling Fire began a three-wide move 600m from home and the third quarter of the final mile was covered in 27.5sec.
Suvaljko did not ask Rolling Fire for a special effort as she was not willing to provide Lusaka and Rockmyster with an ideal passage.
“I lobbed a lot closer than I thought I would,” said Suvaljko. “Rolling Fire was quite sharp, and he travelled a lot better than usual. It was probably the best he has travelled with a sit. I was not worried when Acharne Girl opened up a good break because Rolling Fire was just cruising down the back.
“I was confident Rolling Fire had the measure of Acharne Girl, but I was mindful that the ones to beat (Lusaka and Rockmyster) were behind me, and I didn’t want them to track me into the race.”
Rolling Fire took the lead with 100 metres to travel and won by a half-length from Acharne Girl, with Lusaka and Rockmyster running home powerfully to finish third and fourth, respectively.
Rolling Fire is by American stallion Roll With Joe and is the fourth foal out of Badlands Hanover mare Incendio, who raced 71 times in Western Australia for six wins, 21 placings and $56,635. Rolling Fire has earned $141,946 from eleven wins and five placings from 24 starts.