Age of Fire Turns Tables

The Informant reports:

With a scintillating last-to-first performance at Ellerslie this afternoon, Age Of Fire stepped out of the shadow of his classic-winning stablemate Embellish.

A well-related son of Fastnet Rock, Age Of Fire picked up his first career victory at Riccarton in October, then finished third in the Barneswood Farm Stakes and a fast-finishing second to Embellish in the Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Age Of Fire and Embellish renewed their rivalry in today's $50,000 Shaw's Wire Ropes 1400, with Guineas third placegetter Ever Loyal also featuring among a star-studded field.

Age Of Fire and Embellish dropped to the back early as Ever Loyal dictated terms from the front, and when the field turned for home the Te Akau pair had work to do. They were last and second-last respectively as Ever Loyal produced a powerful kick at the 350-metre mark.

But Matt Cameron picked a path and Age Of Fire produced an explosive turn of foot, diving through on the inside of Ever Loyal to win by a half-head.

Belle Du Nord worked home well for third, with Embellish doing his best work late in finishing fourth.

Age Of Fire has now had five starts for two wins, three placings and just over $150,000 in prize-money for the Te Akau 2016 Sydney Breeding No.2 Syndicate.

“He's a pretty good horse, this,” co-trainer Jamie Richards said. “It was a lovely ride by Matt. He got a bit further back than we would have wanted, but he saved ground and got the run.

“We've been very impressed with this horse right the way through. His 2000 Guineas run was spot-on and he's gone the right way since.”

Bought for A$400,000 as a yearling in Sydney, Age Of Fire is ineligible for the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie in a month's time. He will instead head to Trentham for the Gr. 1 Levin Classic - a race Te Akau won last season with Hall of Fame.

“We'll go to the Levin Classic - a mile next up will really suit him,” Richards said. “He's a lovely horse. Hall of Fame was a smaller, more nuggety sort of colt, whereas this bloke has some real strength, scope and size about him. He'll go further than a mile as well.”

Cameron said Age Of Fire's performance was even more after a small misstep at the beginning of the race.

“He just stumbled a little bit,” he said. “But I knew from riding him in the 2000 Guineas that I had a good horse under me, and he felt super in his exhibition gallop at Matamata the other day. He relaxed superbly and finished it off very well.

“He'll improve from this. He's a very nice colt. As long as he has a true gallop, he has a great ability to finish over the top of them.”

The Te Akau team were also far from disappointed by the run of the $1.80 favourite Embellish.

“He ran well,” Richards said. “He also got a bit further back than ideal, but he stuck to it nicely down the straight. He'll go to the Karaka Million race, and there's the option of a 1500-metre race here between now and then if he gets away from us a little bit. He'll improve for the run today.”

Ever Loyal drifted outwards as he tired in the last 150 metres of the race, and the connections of third-placed Belle Du Nord lodged a protest that was unsuccessful.