GROUP 1-placed Im Full Of Fire makes his racetrack return at Ballarat harness races tonight.
Ballarat trainer Ian Frost brings back Im Full Of Fire in a VHRSC Metropolitan Cup heat, 2200m.
The seven-year-old has not raced since July last year, which is his only start since May, 2010.
Purchased as a two-year-old, Im Full Of Fire was campaigned vigorously in three-year-old season.
He contested derbies in four derbies, winning a NSW Derby heat, finishing third in a Victoria Derby heat, getting third in the Tasmanian Derby and second in the Queensland Derby.
He spent an extended time in Tasmania in 2008.
Im Full Of Fire has also raced on the grand circuit.
Despite his credentials, this will be no easy reintroduction after extended periods off the scene.
The improving Valiant Sue gets her opportunity to win her fifth race in a row.
Valiant Sue has dashed through the classes since arriving from New Zealand this season, winning eight of nine starts.
The Dean Braun-trained mare opened her Australian account with back-to-back wins in Ballarat.
She won four on end before finishing third and has gone on to win her latest four visits to the races.
Drawing outside the front row does not help, but her class should help her to overcome this.
Jadahson shapes as a major threat to her winning run.
With lifetime earnings smack on $100,000, there is denying the class of the Emma Stewart-trained Jadahson, which continues to be eased through the classes.
Can he make it eight wins in 12 starts at Bray Raceway?
River Field is another contender in an open event.
River Field is trained by New Zealander Tim Butt, who is still on a high after guiding Choise Achiever to victory in Saturday’s AG Hunter Cup.
The Metropolitan Cup series opened with a heat at Bendigo on Friday night, when Queensland visitor Montana Pablo produced as return to form to get the money.
A $20,000 final will be run at Melton on Friday, February 17.
HEATS of two other series will be run in Ballarat tonight - the VHRSC Provincial Cup, 2200m, and Inland Body Motors Three-Year-Old, 2200m.
Another “Highview” could make the track her own in the Provincial Cup heat.
With Highview Tommy’s upset victory in the Ballarat Pacing Cup last month still a harness racing industry talking point, Highview Ebony shapes as possible winner for Dean Braun.
The four-year-old has won four of seven Australian starts, including the $20,000 Harness Breeders Three-Year-Old Classic at Melton when she last raced in August.
If there is question about her race fitness, the Peter Tonkin-trained Vesper Lynd looms as the one to beat.
The three-year-old has won her past two starts and appears suited by the small field.
SMYTHES Creek trainer outlaid $70,000 for an Rocknroll Hanover colt at the Australian Pacing Gold premier yearling sale in Melbourne.
This was the fourth highest price on Friday night. The colt is the first foal out of United States-bred mare Aston Villa, which won four of just nine race starts.
Tonkin also purchased an Art Major-Golden Sarn colt for $30,000. Gold Sarn won four races and is the mother of four winners, including group 1-winning filly Shake It Mama.
Paul Rowse bid to $35,000 to acquire a Grinfromeartoear-Fususi colt. Fususi won 12 times, including the group 2 Tatlow Stakes as a two-year-old and was second in the Victoria Oaks.
A half-sister (Art Major-Counterfeit Girl) to group 1 winners Artificial (which wsas trained by Julian Jobe at Bungaree) and Devilish Smile (Peter Tonkin) was sold for $62,500.
Other Ballarat district purchases of note at the Melbourne APG yearling sale on Sunday:
Michael Stanley (Bald Hills): Modern Art-Our Christine Cullen colt, $22,000.
Emma Stewart (Smythes Creek); Grinfromeartoear-Aluring filly, $15,000.
Peter Tonkin: Robin Hood-Im Making Waves colt,l $13,000.
Michael Stanley: Live Or Die-Rebecca Sheffield colt, $11,000.
Greg Moy (Smythes Creek): Modern Art-If Iseeyouinheaven colt, $10,000.
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