Superbly-bred speedster Aston Flame will be striving to steal a little of her illustrious litter brother Aston Rupee’s thunder by claiming an incredible ninth straight victory at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Trained by Ian Garland at Longlea, Aston Flame (Box 4) can kick off what could be an unforgettable night for leviathan owner/breeder Ray Borda in Race 2, a Ballarat to The Meadows final, at 6.30pm, where she’s TAB’s $3.10 favourite.
Two hours later, her superstar sibling Aston Rupee, prepared by Glenn Rounds, will start favourite in the inaugural $750,000 to-the-winner TAB Phoenix.
In reeling off eight consecutive provincial wins, highlighted by the G3 Northern Districts Cup at Shepparton, and 15 from 24 overall, Aston Flame has stamped herself as a class performer in her own right.
However Ian Garland fears a tough draw for her return to the city may bring her winning streak to an end.
“She’s got an awful draw on Saturday, so I think it’s probably no, more than yes this week, unfortunately,” he said candidly.
“She’s not really a lid-pinger, she takes five or six metres to get going. She powers up as soon as her feet hit the ground, but ‘the five’ (Aston Profit) has a stack of pace and comes out running.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she wins but you’ve got to be a realist.”
WATCH: Aston Rupee’s sister Aston Flame (8) showed blinding acceleration from Box 8 to win a heat of the Ballarat to The Meadows series in a BOD 24.995sec on December 11.
Saturday’s assignment will be just the second time Aston Flame has journeyed beyond 500m, the only previous occasion being when unplaced in a heat of the G1 Maturity Classic, also at The Meadows, in July.
“I don’t know,” said Garland honestly, regarding the 525m.
“She’s not going to run it out strongly. She won’t be coming from behind and getting over the top of them. She’ll need to find the front down the back and get a little break.
“To get her ready for Saturday, I purposely gave her her last two runs at Warragul and Ballarat, which are the two hardest 450m runs in Victoria.”
Win, lose or draw on Saturday, Aston Flame is heading towards the heats of the G2 Warragul Cup on January 7.
Garland is aiming for an ‘Aston’ double in the opening two races on Phoenix night, with exciting middle distance and staying prospect Aston Jonas, $1.95 favourite from Box 2 in Race 1 over 600m at 6.10pm.
A son of Ray Borda’s 2018 G2 Geelong and Ballarat Cup hero Aston Kimetto, Aston Jonas has won three of his seven starts and has impressed in winning his past two over 595m at Sandown Park, the most recent a fast 33.90sec success last Sunday.
“He can really run,” said Garland.
“I’m hoping he’ll turn into a top stayer. I’m pretty sure he will but you never know.
“I’ve had stayers like Billy’s Bake, Cadalora and Zipping Nitro, which were Group finalists, but this dog would pick them up and carry them over 600m.”
Later in the night, Hennessey, trained by Ashlee Terry, winner of the G3 Provincial Plate on Melbourne Cup night, is also looking for a ninth straight victory in Race 10 at 9.15pm.
Potential staying star Aston Jonas was a slick 33.90sec winner over 600m at Sandown Park last Sunday
