In the second consecutive Grade 1 finish of a drama charged 2025 Champions Day to be decided in the Stipes’ boardroom, Alec Laird’s Fire Away colt Fire Attack benefitted from a superb ride by reigning SA Champion Richard Fourie to win the HKJC World Pool Gr1 Premier’s Champion Challenge.
Fire Attack (Richard Fourie) withstands a courageous onslaught from Royal Victory (Muzi Yeni) to take the lead (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
In a titanic struggle to the wire, the 3yo Fire Attack had to withstand a courageous onslaught from the 5yo defending champion Royal Victory, with the two coming together in the final 200m.
Muzi Yeni, who rode the runner-up, lodged an objection on the grounds of interference in the latter stages, but his appeal was overruled, with the deposit refunded.
After a tactical call to drop the smart Fire Attack out, Fourie bravely used the initiative off a slow pace to take his mount around the field to up the ante.
The move proved decisive, and after Royal Victory (5-1) moved up menacingly down the inside rail at the 300m, it was Fire Attack (13-10) who dug deep and passed the post in front, a quarter length ahead of his senior, and clocking a time of 128,28 secs for the 2000m.
Purple Pitcher (6-1) ran another game race in third.
The winner’s sire, Wilgerbosdrift’s War Front stallion Fire Away, only marked his maiden Grade 1 success a month ago when Confederate won the TAB Gr1 SA Classic at Turffontein – beating Fire Attack in the process.
A R450 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Fire Attack has now won 3 of his 11 starts with 5 places for stakes of R2 140 760.
A past SA Nursery winner, Fire Attack, is out of the Mambo In Seattle mare Bonnie Beers. His class looks to have gotten him here and it will be interesting to see where his connections aim him from here.
Sadly Son Of Raj appeared to go wrong in running and finished a distance off.
