Trainer Robert Heathcote has revealed that talented mare Fire Up Fifi could be having the final race start of her career in the 2014 Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mileat Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Fire Up Fifi was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) and the Listed Tattersall’s Open Mile (1600m) and Heathcote decided that he would step the Bradbury’s Luck mare up to a mile for the easier race.
Heathcote admitted that Fire Up Fifi had not been racing well enough to warrant another shot at Group 1 level, but told Sky Racing HQ that he believes the Tattersall’s Open Mile is a very winnable race for the six-year-old.
“At the end of the day she has been down on form since the wonderful spring that she had last year and she is getting closer and closer to the breeding barn and this could be her final race,” Heathcote said.
“The mile has also been my preferred distance for her and she has a bit of a weight drop down to 57 and a half with Travolta in the field.
“She ran a nice third in the BRC Sprint, so she is coming back into some form.
“This is a winnable race to say farewell to her.”
Heathcote and connections have decided that Fire Up Fifi and stablemate Fillydelphia will be sent to the breeding barn at the end of the racing season, but could both have one more race start in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Doomben on July 12 if they perform well in the Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mile this weekend.
“There is one more Listed Tatt’s Mile in about three weeks’ time and if they run well in this they may go onto that one,” Heathcote said.
“This is definitely their last preparation.”
Fire Up Fifi has been a consistent performer in Brisbane since making her racing debut back in 2011, but in the last 18 months has developed into a genuine contender at Group level.
The popular grey scored wins in the Listed Spear Chief Quality (1500m) and Listed Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mile (1600m) during the 2013 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and won the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1410m) at Flemington before finishing third at Group 1 level in both the Myer Classic (1600m) and Railway Stakes (1600m).