The 10^th edition of the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) lived up to its name at Randwick on Saturday as the front running Villami led from barrier to box to record a gutsy victory.

With most of the money coming for race-favourite Cosmic Force and market mover Yao Dash, Gerald Ryan’s three-year-old filly by Foxwedge was a handy price for punters who got on board at $6.00.

Saturday marked Villami’s first win since her maiden at Rosehill in February 2019. Photo: Steve Hart.

Jockey Tim Clark got away well on the outside to take up the lead by 1.5L at the 800m mark. From there, Clark had very little work to do as Villami kicked home down the straight to record a first-up win ahead of the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 11.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s a lot stronger this prep than she was last prep,” Ryan said.

“She’s got good form around the best fillies in Australia, she’s been going good and we’ve been going patient with her. After the Spring we decided to fly her around and she’s had two races here in Sydney. Hopefully get her to Queensland and run 1400m in the Tatts Tiara.”

Villami has firmed from $19 into $9 ahead of the Arrowfield hoping to win his first start at Group level.

Cosmic Force, who finished very strongly for second, has also moved in the market from $10 into $8.00.

Ladbrokes’ complete 2020 Arrowfield Sprint market can be viewed by clicking here.