Olive-trained colt looking to catch fire again at Inglis Classic
TWO-YEAR-OLD colt Fire Stoker will be aiming to maintain an unbeaten start to its career in Saturday’s Listed Inglis Classic (1200m) at Randwick.
Trained by Nick Olive, Fire Stoker has had one start for one win, downing odds-on favourite Mossman Gorge over 1000 metres at Canberra on February 3.
Despite rising sharply in grade for Saturday’s $250,000 event, Olive is confident his charge will perform well.
“It’s pretty exciting – he beat a $1.20 favourite at his only start and there was a bit of a wrap on it, so we couldn’t be happier with him,” Olive told HorseBetting.com.au.
“He is hard to fault at the moment and I think he will improve off that run, having had a bit of race experience now.
“It’s a big step up in class this Saturday, but I think he is a nice horse and I am looking forward to seeing how he holds himself in this sort of race.
“I think he should go well.”
The black colt is rated an $11 shot with Sportsbet, having firmed from $17 when the markets opened.
The current favourite for the race is John Thompson’s Sweet Deal, which comes into the event following a strong third in the Group 3 Widden Stakes at Rosehill on January 28.
Olive says he won’t be pushing Fire Stoker too hard this prep.
“We are just wanting to see how he goes on Saturday before we get too excited, but I am from Canberra so the Black Opal is always an option if he performs well.
“If he doesn’t perform well I will probably just give him a break, because I think he is a horse which is going to improve with maturity as well.
“I think he will be up to city grade down the track and I am hopeful he is up to the grade on Saturday as well.”
Based in Canberra, Olive has been training horses for just over a decade and says he loves the challenges which come with being a thoroughbred trainer.
“I have been training for 12 years,” he said.
“I don’t have a family background in the industry, but racing was always something I followed.
“I was the foreman for Barbara Joseph in Canberra and also Ken Callaghan, but training on my own is something that I wanted to do, so I just followed my passion and decided to go out on my own.”
The highlight of Olive’s career came just last year when his exciting mare Single Gaze won the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, however, he quickly came crashing back down to earth just two weeks later when the flashy chestnut fell in the Group 1 ATC Oaks.
Since then, Single Gaze has had a lengthy spell and has resumed with a couple of nice trials at Canberra, which have put her in good stead for her return to racing next week.
“When you get into training horses, winning a group 1 is the ultimate, so to have that ticked off is a massive thrill.
“I feel she is a really good mare, so hopefully she can continue to progress and make an impact in a few of the big races this Autumn.
“I couldn’t be happier with her – her work has been sensational and she is doing everything right.
“As far as mental-wise, she is pretty switched on and she is very strong willed, so I don’t think the fall has affected her, but I suppose we aren’t going to know for sure until she gets back racing again.
“She will resume in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday week and, obviously she needs to keep stepping up, but the plan is then to head towards the Coolmore.”
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1129370_04]