Trainer Robert Heathcote has revealed that talented mare Fire Up Fifi has been ‘sizzling’ in trackwork and has settled into her stable in Sydney nicely ahead of the Group 3 Wiggle Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm tomorrow.
Fire Up Fifi is chasing her first race win since her memorable victory in the Blazer Stakes during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Fire Up Fifi resumed with a sixth place finish behind Tiger Tees in the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on February 22 and Heathcote told Racing Ahead that the performance was a lot better than it looked on paper.
“I loved the run and I thought it was probably her best ever first-up run,” Heathcote said.
“She was back second or third last after being a little fractious in the gate, but carrying a big weight she hit the line really well.
“She generally races better second-up and she is really well; she has been down here in Sydney for a couple of days and settled in really well at John Thompson’s stables.
“She has really sizzled (in trackwork) and she is as happy as I have ever seen her.”
The 2014 Wiggle Stakes is set to be a very interesting tactical race and there is plenty of speculation about how the rain-affected Warwick Farm track will play this weekend.
Heathcote said that he will be watching the first three races before the running of the Wiggle Stakes very closely, but at this stage will be instructing jockey Damian Browne to try and position the daughter of Bradbury’s Luck in the first half of the field.
“That is an interesting one; not just how the race unfolds, but how the track plays,” Heathcote said.
“I don’t have a lot of experience at Warwick Farm, but they tell me that it can at times be a swoopers track.
“We race fourth, so we will have a look at the first three races, but I would like to see Damien a little closer than the second half of the field if we can.”
Heathcote confirmed that Fire Up Fifi would have her next race start in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 before contesting the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
