Wilgerbosdrift’s blue blooded young stallion Fire Away came up with his first winner when Fire Away’s two-year-old son Fire ‘N Flames got off the mark with a convincing win at the Vaal on Tuesday afternoon.
Trained by Kobus Roux, Fire ‘N Flames had finished sixth on debut before running second last time out and he duly went one better in Tuesday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate (1000m).
Under JP Van Der Merwe, Fire ‘N Flames turned Tuesday’s race into a procession, with the two-year-old pulling clear in the closing stages to win by four lengths.
The gelding, who was bred by Ascot Stud, is out of the Silvano mare Silvan Jazz.
Fire ‘N Flames is from the first crop of his well performed sire Fire Away, himself one of more than 100 stakes winners sired by outstanding stallion War Front.
Fire Away won seven times, and earned more than $600 000, during his career with his trio of stakes wins headed by a triumph in the 2018 G3 Dixie Stakes.
The latter race has been won by a plethora of equine stars previously, with past stars to have won the Dixie Stakes including such Breeders’ Cup winners as World Approval, Better Talk Now and Lure, as well as highly successful sire Nassipour, and champions Bowl Game and Fort Marcy.
The impeccably bred Fire Away is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Vigilantes Way (G3 Eatontown Stakes) and Mr Speaker (G1 Belmont Derby). The latter has also enjoyed success at stud, with Mr Speaker having sired the G1 winners Speech (Ashland Stakes) and Speaking Scout (Hollywood Derby).
Fire Away’s dam Salute, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner and outstanding sire Unbridled, won at two when she also finished runner up in the G2 Demoiselle Stakes and third in the G3 Tempted Stakes.
Salute, herself a half-sister to the G1 winners Miner’s Mark, My Flag and Traditionally, was produced by unbeaten champion, and G1 Breeder’ Cup Distaff winner Personal Ensign. The latter, whose son Our Emblem sired Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, was USA’s Broodmare Of The Year in 1996.