Late entry fees are always a big gamble but the connections of talented three-year-old Fire Thunbderbolt reckon the $55,000 they have paid to start the colt in Saturday's $1 million Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington will be money well spent.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Fire Thunderbolt team did not hesitate to part with $55,000 on Monday after he finished an unlucky seventh behind Nechita in last Saturday's Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.
He was beaten three lengths but trainer Philip Stokes reckons she should have gone close to challenging the star filly after a slow start and then getting locked away and disappointed for a clear run over the last 300m.
“He was beaten three lengths which he pretty much cost himself at the start,” Stokes said.
“He was then blocked for a run and didn't have a lot of luck but he's come through the race really well.
“I should've nominated him originally but he's there now, we're happy to run and Glyn Schofield takes the ride.”
Schofield replaces Craig Williams, who has picked up a rare ride for Gai Waterhouse on her mare Hallowell Belle.
Fire Thunderbolt joins the top filly Snitzerland as the only three-year-olds in the Patinack Farm Classic.
He will carry 53.5kg in the Patinack under the weight for age conditions while Snitzerland, backing up from her fifth in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, has only 51.5kg.
Since the race was changed to weight for age in 2007 three-year-olds have twice finished runner-up in the sprint after both raced in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Star Witness was second to Black Caviar in 2010 after winning the Coolmore and Wanted was second behind All Silent in 2009 after a seventh the previous Saturday.
The last filly to win the race was Pharein in 1999 carrying 52kg when the race was still run under handicap conditions.
