9 Nov
2023
We’re hopeful of snaring a black-type result with the in-form Flamebird later this month.The Shooting To Win four-year-old added to our tally at Pukekohe following earlier successes with Aquacade and About Time when she dashed away to thump her Rating 75 rivals.“We’re a breeding farm and that was her first win over 1400 metres so we might look at the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes back here in two and a-half weeks,” trainer Lance Noble said.A previous third at Hastings, Flamebird jumped well to settle in the trail for rider Vinnie Cogan and when a gap presented itself 200 metres from home, they were through in a flash and powered clear to win by nearly two lengths.“It looked a bit tricky for a while, but one of Vinnie’s great attributes is that eh is patient and he got the split,” Noble said.The winner of three of her 10 starts, Flamebird is a daughter of the Stravinsky mare Lady Firebird, also the dam of dual Group 3 winner Hiflyer and the mother of the G3 Swap Sprint Handicap winner Faithful Feat.Lady Firebird is a daughter of the stakes winner Miss Power Bird and she is a half-sister to the G1 Hong Kong Mile winner Lucky Owners and to the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Mosheen.