Like Wildfire Set To Light Up Angle Park

20/03/2024
Racing News


Like Wildfire Set To Light Up Angle Park

Thursday nights Angle Park meeting will see two heats of the Easter Cup run, which is over the 595m distance.


The heats will feature two small, but very high quality fields, with the first four from both heats to make their way through to the final next week.

Tim Aloisi will have a significant presence in the heats, as he has three chasers drawn across both heats, those being Zipping Neutron, Triumph and Like Wildfire. All three are superb talents and he looks set to play a strong hand in the final next week too.

Like Wildfire has proven to be a good purchase so far for Aloisi and his syndicate, with the black dog putting together two excellent victories in South Australia, which included a big come from behind victory last week, when running down the very strong Triumph.

That win last week followed a sensational first up run over the 530m distance, in which Like Wildfire was able to deal with early pressure, before breaking clear and proving a class above, running away to win with a sensational run hom time. Aloisi has been impressed with his on track performances so far and is pleased with how he has settled into South Australian life.

“He’s settled in really well. He’s a nice dog. Great around the kennels and very friendly.” said Aloisi

“Well there was a lot of hype on the dog from the outside but us he’s just treated like every other dog in the kennel. He's prepared the same and we take him to the races. He's not going to win every week but fingers crossed we have a lot of fun with him, that's why we are in dogs. I thought his first win was great over 530m, he showed great track sense in a field and his run home was very strong. A lot (of people) say he’s gotta lead to win but that is rubbish. As for his first 595m race, I would put his win down as a pass mark. All you can do is win so that was great but he looked very lost and ran with his head in the air, but the win will do his confidence great. I’m not sure people realise how good this dog is and he will only continue to get better.

Like Wildfire will just have the four opponents in his heat of the Easter Cup on Thursday night and despite drawing box six, he appears to have a good chance of landing on the speed, with a lack of early pace in the race. If he can get a clear run early, then it will be all eyes on the clock and he should be able to go quicker than his winning time of 34.35 last week, with Aloisi hoping he improves after having a look out of the 595m boxes.

“I think he can lead from box six and I expect a faster run from last week, I think he needed the look.” said Aloisi

In heat two of the Easter Cup, Aloisi will also have Triumph engaged, who has also been a new acquisition to the kennel in recent times and last week Triumph was able to lead the kennel mate in Like Wildfire, pushing him to the limits, before going down in a nail biter. Triumph, who is not always a quick beginner, but Aloisi believes that he can overcome box six and show similar early pace to what he did last week.

“I thought Triumph ran a super race out in front on what was a very slow track and I expect Triumph to come out running on Thursday” said Aloisi

Racing starts at 6:40pm local time.

Best Bets:

Springvale Grace (Race 7, Number 5)

Ravers Army (Race 10, Number 5)