Burning Front will look to break the $1m mark in Saturday's Golden Mile
A significant milestone is within reach of iron horse Burning Front who will smash through the $1 million prize money barrier if his rich vein of form continues at Bendigo in the Golden Mile.
The Darren Weir-trained six-year-old gelding, who was bred by his part-owner Justin Lovatt, is the $3.50 WilliamHill favourite to register his sixth-straight win in Saturday’s 1600m Listed Golden Mile and the $90,000 first prize money would push his earnings into seven figures.
In his previous preparation, Burning Front raced 21 times for eight wins and only missed a top-three finish once when fifth in the 2015 Seymour Cup.
After going four races without winning to start his current preparation, Burning Front has struck form again and held it with five-straight victories since early January.
Two of those five wins have been in VOBIS Gold races while the tough gelding has also snared stakes wins in the Group Three Carlyon Cup for the second straight year and the Listed C S Hayes Stakes (1300m) at Morphettville.
“At the end of the day, he’s a war horse,” Burning Front’s jockey Brad Rawiller said.
“You know what you’re going to get every time he steps out, so like always I can’t wait to ride him.”
Rawiller says Burning Front has the ability to begin well and put himself in the right spot in his races to make his own luck, whether that be leading or just behind the pace.
“I say it nearly every time, such a big thing for him is his first two steps out of the barriers,” Rawiller said.
“He has a length advantage straight away so that always has him in a position where he can control the speed of what the race is.
“And that’s a really big advantage for him. Wherever it is, whether it’s in front or just behind the speed if they go too quick, he gets into a good rhythm.
“He travels well and can bowl along at a good speed and not use too much energy. Then when it comes down to quickening at the end, he tries his heart out and doesn’t give up.”
Burning Front has top weight of 60.5kg and barrier 10 with last-start Flemington winner Show A Star and the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Zebrinz on the second line of betting at $6.50.
