Fireburn continues hot streak in Sweet Embrace

[Wandering Eyes]

Fireburn claims the Sweet Embrace Stakes. (Photo: Lisa Grimm)

Fireburn continued on her winning ways in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Royal Randwick, booking her ticket into the Golden Slipper.

The Gary Portelli-trained two-year-old made it three straight wins in the Group 2 event in what was her third attempt at 1200m.

The daughter of Rebel Dane moved up stylishly on the outside of Xtravagant Star and Lady Laguna, to quickly put the field to bed and fend off the challenge from the fast-finishing She’s Extreme.

Jason Collett partnered the filly, making it a winning double for himself at Randwick after just three races.

“She’s pretty handy. When she put the two together early in the prep she showed it then, and just the way she attacked the line each time she was strong through it, her last furlong was generally the best,” Collett said.

“Rebel Dane was pretty handy in the wet and she’s got an action that would suggest that she would love it and she has.

“Obviously it was going to be a pretty tough 1200m and I didn’t want to be revving her up too early so we were a touch more negative on her but it has paid dividends.”

“Wet tracks I think are going to be around for the autumn and I don’t think they are going to be an issue. Even further could be the go.”

“She’s well on her way to some big, big, big things… she is him in a filly’s body.” – @GaryPortelli

Fireburn has a lot of similarities to Rebel Dane and has a bright future ahead. pic.twitter.com/5WzJMWZdU6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2022

Fireburn proved that she has some of her sire’s qualities by handling the Heavy 10 surface today, and Portelli, who trained Rebel Dane, said “she is him in a filly’s body”.
“She is a machine, just like the stallion,” Portelli said.

“She is him in a filly’s body. She’s such a beautiful filly, she’s got that presence about her, a beautiful head. She can gallop. She does things good horses have to do, a clip down the shoulder and it’s all over.”

Portelli is now likely to set the filly for the Golden Slipper, which is to be run at Royal Randwick on March 19.

“It sounds alright, doesn’t it?” Portelli continued.

The Golden Slipper-winning trainer was somewhat lost for words after the running of the race, claiming the filly as simply “sensational”.

“Sensational, that’s the only word I can say,” he said.

“I was worried in the run that they hadn’t gone very quick and she actually dipped about the 600m, she hit a bad spot, and picked herself back up and as soon as he aimed her up, it was all over.”

Fireburn is now a $15 chance for the Golden Slipper.

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