Like Wildfire Returns For Ladbrokes The 715 Bid

THERE'S only so far talent can take you.

It's a tried and tested adage and in greyhound racing it couldn't be any more apt then for the prodigiously gifted Like Wildfire.

Capable of destroying fields and breaking track records for fun, Like Wildfire, a son of Goodesy and Freaky Tears, launched his career with a boom bigger than Ben Hur.

FIELDS AND FORM THE GARDENS FRIDAY NIGHT

It seemed a mere formality that the brilliant chaser would take all before him over the staying journeys and quickly ascend to the sport's premier half-miler.

Yet a year on from beginning his career with six straight breathtaking wins, a big race triumph still eludes the 18-time winner, his prize money sitting at $80,000, which many believed would have carried an extra zero by now.

In February, owner-breeder Michael Ivers made the difficult decision to part ways with the exceptional talent, selling him to South Australian-based Tim Aloisi for a reasonable, but non extravagant sum of money.

Since heading to SA, Like Wildfire has won six of his seven performances, showing enough for Aloisi to send the three-year-old to Peter Lagogiane for a tilt at The 715, worth $500,000-to-the-winner, which gets underway at The Gardens on Friday.

"If you look at his overall record he's a very, very good dog," Aloisi said.

"I think the media can sometimes build dogs up and over-hype them and put too much expectation on them which sometimes isn't warranted. 

"Since I've got him I can't fault him. I've just brought him along slowly and let him find his way and build his confidence up.

"He's chasing his heart out and it's the right time to begin another 700m campaign with him." 

In the countdown to Friday's heats, Like Wildfire had a trial hit-out at The Gardens over 600 metres where he holds the track record at 33.88s, going just a few lengths outside that mark.

He will exit box three in heat four on Friday where his rivals include Group 1 Association Cup runner-up Canya Amy.

Kennelmate Zipping Neutron – drawn to contest heat three from box four – went around a length slower in his trial over the same journey.

"Like Wildfire went 34.04 and Zipping Neutron 34.11 so they've both gone great," Aloisi added. 

"They've settled in at Peter's real well and we thought it important that they have another hit-out at The Gardens and get used to the boxes and lure run up again.

"Like Wildfire hasn't had a 700 since January but we didn't want to go into this series a bit flat, we'd rather him fresh and still on the way up.

“He'll take a lot out of Friday's heat run. If he can make the final he'll be a lot better for it.

"With Zipping Neutron, he's still underrated in my opinion. I think because he races here in SA he doesn't get the credit he deserves. He'll run a really good race on Friday. He's got a great record at The Gardens."

If Like Wildfire is to capitalise on his unbridled ability there wouldn't be a more opportune time then in the next fortnight in the world's richest staying race.

"Whatever he does across the next two weeks it's only the start again with him back over the distance."

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Heat 1: The Ladbrokes 715

Sees the appearance of group 1 winning Queenslander VALPOLICELLA (6) which has sizzled in each of her trials at The Gardens in readiness for the series. Tricky draw and likely to get back in the pack but still the one to beat. NANGAR LUCY (8) won at her 720m debut last time out at WPK defeating Canya Amy which was runner-up in the Association Cup. Drawn to lead and take plenty of running down. SCINTILLATE (7) next best on the strength of two slashing recent wins and has trialled in preparation for her The Gardens debut.

TIPS: 6,8,7

Heat 2: The Ladbrokes 715

This has a feel of last year's finale with NANGAR ROCKET (8) which finished a narrow second and PALAWA KING (6) the third placegetter. Palawa King has gone on since to win five group 1s and he's impossible to look past fresh off his Association Cup romp. Nangar Rocket should lead and give a bold sight in front but all things being equal can't stave off the rampaging favourite. CHECK THE RADAR (2) dives in at the deep end but did break the Richmond track record last start while DOING FINE (1) is a stayer of the future. This might be a bit before his time but he has a bright future over the distance journey.

TIPS: 6,8,2

Heat 3: The Ladbrokes 715

Brilliant group 1 winning Taswegian RAIDER'S GUIDE (2) is all the rage for this heat and it's impossible to argue why not. Trials at the track have been in the track record range and his return to racing last week at Hobart since his Group 1 heroics in February at The Meadows couldn't have been more impressive. Should lead and win. Group 1 winner RITZA PIPER (5) steps out for the first time in 2024 in what would be the training performance of the year while ever consistent SA stayer has a terrific The Gardens record ZIPPING NEUTRON (4) represents terrific each way value at $14.

TIPS: 2,4,5

Heat 4: The Ladbrokes 715

Betting has it as a race in two between LIKE WILDFIRE (3) and CANYA AMY (7) and expect that to be how it plays out. Off his preparation Like Wildfire, which holds The Gardens 600m record, should lead and setting a crack pace, while Canya Amy will get home hard as she has when second in both her heat and the final of the Group 1 Association Cup. I'm leaning her way with the match fitness. If there's a danger it could be ASTON COSTELLO (8). Can reel off fast sectionals and well drawn in eight. Plenty of intrigue around Like Wildfire and how he performs on the back of some slashing SA form.

TIPS: 7,3,8