27 March 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Last year’s Easter Cup runner-up, Like A Wildfire, was the first horse to qualify for the 2023 edition of Launceston’s premier race after a brilliant win in the first heat in Launceston on Sunday night.
And the gelded son of Big Jim did it in track record time, recording a mile rate of 1m 58.5s, taking 0.6s off a five-year-old track record for the 2698m standing start event.
Driver Allan McDonough got the Emma Stewart-trained pacer away cleanly from his 30m handicap and settled near the tail before McDonough pulled out three horses wide at the 1700m to find the spot outside the leader at the 1300m.
Like A Wildfire ($2.60 fav) raced away in the home straight to score by 6.1m over Cool Water Paddy ($16), with 2018 Easter Cup winner Hajeet ($7) a neck away third.
The first seven placegetters from the heat, qualified for Saturday weeks Group 3 Final, which will see the second and final heat held this Sunday night.
The win of Like A Wildfire was the last leg of a driving treble for McDonough.
He scored earlier in the night aboard the Wayne Watson-trained Well Said Harps.
McDonough also drove five-year-old mare Dream Maze, who he also trains, to victory in the second heat of the Allen Williams Memorial.
The winning margin was 33.3m at the first start for the daughter of Western Terror.
The Launceston card commenced with the first-two-year old race of the season, which Seriously Sam won for driver Ricky Duggan and trainer Juanita McKenzie.
The Vincent colt is the first foal of Changeover mare Markene Oh.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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