Emerging spring star Firebolt scored an explosive victory in the $175,000 Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday, the New Zealander galloper leaving its rivals far behind with a brilliant late burst.
The Roger James-trained five-year-old Firebolt ($11) had a hard run in the 2010 Shannon Stakes, pushed out wide after jumping from barrier 13.
Stuck on the outside, Firebolt speared across the field and charged into the lead after straightening, pulling away in an impressive display to beat David Payne’s Centennial Park ($5) by a decisive three and a half lengths with Sacred Choice ($9) a long head away third.
After sitting at or near the lead early on, Neeson the $3 favourite faded to finish sixth.
The victory has seen Firebolt burst into contention for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 2, leap-frogging in the early markets at Sportsbet into the fifth elect at $11 behind joint favourites More Joyous and Neeson at $5.
To get in on the generous ante-post Epsom odds sign up with leading online bookie [sportsbet] today, it only takes five minutes and new customers are credited with a free $300 bet!
2010 Shannon Stakes Results
| Place | Horse | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIREBOLT (NZ) | Daniel Ganderton | $11 |
| 2 | CENTENNIAL PARK (NZ) | Brenton Avdulla | $5 |
| 3 | SACRED CHOICE | Tommy Berry | $9 |
| 4 | SAINTHOOD | Rod Quinn | $15 |
| 5 | SPINNEY | Joshua Parr | $61 |
| 6 | NEESON | Peter Robl | $3F |
| 7 | RAIHANA | Nathan Berry | $71 |
| 8 | ONCE WERE WILD | Glyn Schofield | $6 |
| 9 | NOTHIN’ LEICA CAT (NZ) | Corey Brown | $71 |
| 10 | STRYKER | Tye Angland | $9.50 |
| 11 | RABBUKA | Tim Clark | $20 |
| 12 | BARLAGARNEY | Peter Wells | $61 |
| 13 | KEEPIN’ THE DREAM (NZ) | Jim Cassidy | $26 |
| SCR | CAPTAIN SONADOR | – | – |
