It’s Kembla Grange instead of the Gold Coast and the stakes are nowhere near as high but there will still be a strong incentive for The Firehouse to break maiden ranks on Wednesday.
The Firehouse will put carnival aspirations on the line when he contests the Hollymount Bloodstock Handicap (1200m).
“I’m hopeful he can be a Sydney autumn or Brisbane winter horse,” in-form trainer Jason Coyle said.
“Looking through his record, there has been a handy galloper beat every time.
“It’s been a case of him meeting a better one on the day.”
Until last week, Coyle had entertained a start in the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) for The Firehouse.
The young Randwick trainer’s hopes were eventually dashed when it was confirmed the three-year-old was ineligible for the race.
There will only be $27,000 in stakes on offer at Kembla Grange but the result will be just as important to The Firehouse’s future.
“At the moment he’s a very good maiden but he’s due to break through,” Coyle said.
The Firehouse has been placed in four of his six starts, including a last-start second to Air Comet at Kembla Grange last month.
Christian Reith takes the ride again on Wednesday.
Coyle will be hoping The Firehouse can follow in the hoofsteps of stablemate Scream Machine, a fellow three-year-old who shed his maiden tag at Canterbury last week.
Scream Machine’s victory confirmed Coyle is once again making inroads as a trainer after his split from Patinack Farm.
He trained two Group One winners under the Patinack banner before parting company with the racing and breeding conglomerate in late 2009.
“It’s taken time but the stable is having a good run on the back of a combination of patience and a lot of hard work,” Coyle said.
The Firehouse will be one of four runners Coyle will saddle up at Kembla Grange with the trainer expecting Alright Already to race well again after successive placings since a provincial win at the track in early December.
AAP TURF
