Memorable Win. Celtic Fire won the Listed Memorial Mile at Fairview on Friday
Yvette Bremner’s gallant 6yo Bezrin gelding Celtic Fire made it thirteen wins from his 40 starts when bouncing back to his best with a runaway win in Friday’s R125 000 Listed Memorial Mile at Fairview.
Extraordinarily, three of Celtic Fire’s thirteen wins have been achieved in this very race, and nibbled at 15-4 in the betting, the consistent gelding did best of Yvette Bremner’s trio to win a great race from his 1 draw under Karis Teetan.
With Jacques Strydom’s 9yo Surfin’ USA being withdrawn at the start, the field for this weight-for-age event was reduced to 12 runners.
Not unexpectedly, it was Celtic Fire’s stablemate Blaze Of Fire who went up under Fransie Herholdt to lead, a position he managed to hold for all of 1200m of the race.
Blaze Of Fire led from Shujaa, with the pacy Bois De Var being given a chance in third. Celtic Fire held a good position in midfield from his inside draw.
With the strong tailwind coaxing them home, Blaze Of Fire continued to lead into the 400m marker as Shujaa stuck to him like glue, with Celtic Fire unleashing his run down the centre.
In a matter of strides Celtic Fire bounced clear, with The Shark finishing best of the rest to just be shaded by a never-say-die Shujaa in third.
Celtic Fire won by 3,25 lengths in a time of 96,65 secs.
Confident Ride. Karis Teetan rode the winner
His stablemate Copper Parade moved up dangerously down the inside running rail, but had nothing to come and his flat run settled a private wager between his former trainer Joey Ramsden and his co-owner Hedley McGrath.
Apparently Ramsden said Copper Parade would not stay the mile, while the owner felt otherwise.
It probably also makes sense why Ramsden does the training, while Mr McGrath buys the good horses.
The Golden Acres Stud-bred son of Bezrin is out of the Centenary mare, Celtic Bunny and was a R50 000 National Two Year Old Sale graduate.
Celtic Fire is now a winner of 13 races with 13 places from his 40 starts for stake earnings of R844 475.
Celtic Fire must now be considered a major contender for the Arlington Mile.
