More In Store For Fire Legend After Meteor

DESPITE lining up for his 115th race start at the age of four years and five months, Fire Legend will not rest on his laurels immediately after he chases the Masters Meteor (520m) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

“He'll be in the week after, probably at Grafton,” said breeder, owner and trainer Mark Moroney of the son of Fernando Bale-Tick Away Fire.

And Moroney advised punters to expect a much better performance from his warhorse, the winner of 51 races from 114 starts, than when second to Gypsy Yankee in a Masters Meteor heat on September 14.

“He only just got to the race,” said Moroney.

“I slipped him at Grafton prior to the heat and he hurt a hip and his stomach muscle. Not that bad, but bad enough right up to race eve for me to be doubtful about running him.

“He came through the heat well, has been checked over and is fine for the final.

“He'll be 100 percent.”

What a marvel Fire Legend is!

He made it a casual 11 wins in a row last night at Grafton – bring on the #MastersMeteor!

Full Results: https://t.co/bqiAm2wkEQ#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/XpxOAN5YYa

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 4, 2022

And Moroney is not perturbed by his dog drawing the five in the final.

“He's got a pretty good record out of the five box,” he said.

Fire Legend has won eight of 15 starts from the five.

Back in May, Fire Legend chased home Angry Blizzard in the Masters Meteor and Saturday night's final has been Moroney's target since the defeat.

He won 11 in succession before his defeat in the heat on September 14.

“I slipped him 300 metres at Grafton on Monday to top him off for Saturday night and had him checked over on Tuesday,” said Moroney.

“I want him to be either leading or in the first couple around the first turn.

“He has run a 5.40 first section at Wenty before.

“Gypsy Yankee ran 5.45 to lead him three lengths in the heat, so I expect my bloke to go much quicker early in this final.”

Moroney was impressed with the line-up against his dog.

It includes Group 1 star Jax Bale.

Oldest runner in the final is off the rails, Zest To Excel, a daughter of Allkel To Excel-Caviar To Excel, who turned five back in March.

She has won 16 of 90 starts and earned $55,000.

Littermates Jax Bale and Providence Bale (Allen Deed-Helena Bale) are next, whelped in January 2018. Jax Bale has won 24 of 99 starts and $244,000, while Providence Bale has started 108 times for 21 wins and $144,000 in stakes.

Fire Legend is next oldest, ahead of Cumbria Dreaming (Barcia Bale-Hill Top Belle) winner of 23 and $89,000 from 76 starts.

Next is May 2018 whelp Well Grounded (Fernando Bale-Moonlit Wings) winner opf 16 and $120,000 from 111 starts, the July 2018 whelp Jabani (My Bro Fabio-La Houdini) from 88 starts the winner of 18 and $96,000, while August 2018 whelp Gypsy Yankee (Fernando Bale-Dyna Gypsy) has raced 73 times for 18 wins and $120,000.

The scene is set for a classic Masters Meteor final.

And, Mark Moroney is already planning for the future of his famous bloodlines.

“We have just had three dog pups by Flying Ricciardo from Fire Legend's mum Tick Away Fire broken in with exceptional reports.

“One of the pups will go to Brett Hazelgrove in Queensland to be trained and the report on him is that he is sensational.”