Gimme A Fireball stands his ground

Three-year-old Gimme A Fireball arrived at Turffontein with a reputation on Saturday, had to fight for his win in a proper horse race, and left with it intact – along with high hopes for the season ahead.

There were three other well-performed and more experienced contenders in a six-horse field of such quality that Mike de Kock described it as ‘almost a Listed race’. The fact that Gimme A Fireball won the 1200m contest right after his maiden win – and first time on the bend - is most encouraging for his future.

The connections of Bisou Bisou, Whatsdamatterwithu and Rivera knew what they were up against and, admirably, took on the recent Hollywoodbets Scottsville winner fearlessly and with purpose. A fourth, Kudikuran, also got into the brawl late with a committed run, but his unfortunate clipping of heels and subsequent fall put a damper on what could have been a race to watch over and over.

Gimme A Fireball raced a bit green when the combat intensified over the last 200m, but pleasingly stuck to his task, changed legs and geared down to seal the battle by half-a-length.

Mike felt that jockey Sean Veale would have been better off finding cover on the fence early, though Sean did note that he had to push Gimme A Fireball for a few strides so he could hold the bit. If his early rush indeed made his task harder, the win carries even more merit.

“It is no secret that we rate Gimme A Fireball highly. He is green, a bit of a handful, but if he keeps his head, he is a horse that’s going places.”

Gimme A Fireball, like his older stablemate I’m A Fireball, was named in happy consideration of a popular beverage consumed on Hollywood Racing’s annual trips to the Breeders’ Cup in the United States.

Hollywood’s Devin Heffer explained: “‘Fireball’ is the name of a cinnamon whiskey in the USA. When we go to the Breeders’ Cup, we always have a bucket of mini-Fireballs on the bus.

“Here at home the same drink is called ‘Firewater’ and it’s become a tradition to celebrate with a shot (or two?) whenever we have a winner at the racecourse or if we win at a Hollywood Sharks or Hollywood Dolphin game.”

Gimme A Fireball is an Avontuur-bred colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Dream De Ra, by Oasis Dream.