Former West Australian filly Bam’s On Fire has started to make her mark in Victoria and co-trainer David Eustace believes the three-year-old can take another step in her first Melbourne stakes race at Flemington.
Bam’s On Fire had her first five starts in Western Australia where she was Group-placed before being bought by Darren Thomas’ Seymour Bloodstock and sent to Victoria to be trained by Ciaron Maher and Eustace.
The filly finished second as favourite in a country maiden in her first start for Maher and Eustace last November.
Since she returned for her current campaign she has strung together three impressive wins, including two in town at Caulfield.
Bam’s On Fire is the $3.20 favourite for Saturday’s Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds, her first test on the straight course at Flemington.
“I think she’ll go close,” Eustace said.
“She has trained on really well.
“She’s got a bit of experience under her belt now and I think Flemington will be fine.
“I think she’ll run a big race.”
Eustace believes housing Bam’s On Fire at the team’s new Ballarat base, where she spends her days out in a paddock, has the filly in the right frame of mind to fulfil her potential on the racetrack.
Earlier this year Ciaron Maher Racing acquired Ballarat stables which had been operated by Darren Weir before his disqualification.
That Ballarat complex complements other bases Maher and Eustace have including stables at Caulfield in Melbourne and Warwick Farm in Sydney.
“She had a big reputation and ran in a maiden in her first start for us but she was a bit over the top that day,” Eustace said.
“We gave her a break and she’s been at Ballarat since then and that’s been the key to her really, living out in a paddock.
“She’s switched off. She was a bit highly strung prior to that where as now she’s very tractable.
“Obviously the facilities and what you can gallop on is good but it’s really just the environment. She lives in a yard and she’s out all day and it just switches her mind off.”
Bam’s On Fire will be joined in the Creswick by stablemate Blonde Choice who has earned her chance after back-to-back victories at Wangaratta and Mornington.
“Blonde Choice was good to win the other day and everything went right,” Eustace said.
“She’s a filly who is trying to get some black-type but Bam’s On Fire would have the best chance.”
