Desert Flame’s burning Distance desire

[Wandering Eyes]

Young gun Gippsland trainer Kate Gorman has her fingers crossed the enigmatic Desert Flame turns up in the right frame of mind for Sunday night’s GRV Vic Bred Distance Series Final (650m) at Sale.

While Desert Flame, which is owned and bred by Gorman’s father, Dennis Pulis and wife Bronwyn, has drawn Box 1, has an impressive record at Sale and should be suited by the longer journey, Kate isn’t getting carried away about her prospects.

“She’s a funny dog,” said Gorman, who’s based at Tanjil South.

“Everything needs to go her way.

“She likes a bit of room, so if she can lead or be running a clear second she’ll give it her best but if she gets a bump or two we could be in trouble.

“I do like Box 1 for her and I think the distance will suit her down to the ground. She comes from a staying line – she comes from the Waiting List line – and Dad and I have always thought she could be a stayer.

“She had a couple of 700s earlier in the year but just seemed to switch off, so I turned her out and she’s been a lot brighter in herself since I brought her back.

“When she ran the 29.42sec at Sale (second run back) she really surprised me because she hadn’t had the work to do that. I think that shows the natural strength and stamina she has. She also recovers so well after a run.

“She does like Sale, she knows it like the back of her hand.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens on Sunday and hope she gets out of the right side of bed!”

The $5600 to-the-winner Distance feature is race 8 on Sunday evening at 8.26pm.

WATCH: Desert Flame (1) powered to the line in an impressive 29.42sec victory at Sale on August 20, giving every indication she’ll relish Sunday night’s 650m Distance Final.

Desert Flame, a daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Paris Sparks, is stepping up to 650m after finishing seventh to her high-flying kennelmate Mirror Illusion in a Grade 5 final over 525m at The Meadows last Saturday.

Mirror Illusion clocked a fast 29.87sec in defeating the talented Invictus Rising to claim her fifth win in her past six starts.

The promising daughter of Orson Allen and Glass Roof, which has won eight from 17 overall, then made an impressive middle distance debut at Sandown Park on Thursday when edged out by Fernando Frank in a slick 34.04sec.

“I was rapt for her first 600m,” said Gorman.

“I thought she might run around 34.20sec, so to run 34.06sec I was really happy.

“She’s just a ripper. Whatever I throw at her she keeps stepping up. She only just turned two a couple of weeks ago too, so there’s still a lot of improvement in her.

“I’m really excited about her and she has a fantastic owner, Jack Savaglia, who lives in South Australia.

“The loose plan is to head towards the (G1) Hume Cup, but we’ll just see how she gets through her first couple of 600s and go from there.”

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