Waikato Gold Cup start on the cards for The Fire Inside

A Waikato Gold Cup start is on the cards for exciting staying prospect The Fire Inside after she easily accounted for her Rating 75 opponents over 1600 metres at Tauranga on Saturday.

The Mike Moroney-Chad Ormsby-trained four-year-old had put the writing on the wall that a winning run was close at hand with an unlucky fourth at her previous start.

“She really should have won last time so we were pretty confident she could do the business," said Ormsby. "Her work had been excellent in the lead-up to the race.

“She is definitely ready to step out over more ground. The 1600 metres was the only concern but she did it easily in the end so we can look to step her up from now on.”

Stakes placed over 2000 metres behind Hera in the Gr. 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic during her three-year-old campaign, The Fire Inside will now be aimed at upcoming summer cup features.

“She can have one more run in Rating 75 company then we will look to tackle one or more of the cups that are coming up towards Christmas if she improves as we expect she will,” said Ormsby.

“The Counties Cup will probably come up too quick for her so a race like the Waikato Cup in December may be more suitable where she could get in on the minimum.

“The City of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day is another possibility. The 2400 metres will suit her right down to the ground as I think she will shine once she gets to that type of distance now she is a little older and more mature.”

NZ Racing Desk