One of Australian staying’s fabulous femmes is ‘dressed hot’ for the $42,875 Group 3 KCR Fireball final (730m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

“She’s just a girl and she’s on fire. Hotter than a fantasy… And she’s burning it down. And she’s not backing down.”

Yes, Alicia Keys could well have been singing about Untapped – fondly known as “Izzy”.

But her Dennington-based trainer, Dustin Drew, has “both feet on the ground” and hasn’t got his “head in the clouds” in the $28,000 to-the-winner event.

However, he’s hoping his eight-time G1 finalist is “burnin’ it down”!

Enough of the lyrics. Reality is Untapped was easily the fastest Fireball heat winner (42.63sec) last week, which followed a brilliant 42.79sec (Best) win by 9.5L a week earlier at The Meadows.

Subsequently she is $2.70 favourite on Sportsbet for the final.

Next in betting is this year’s G1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers winner Ariarne Bale ($3.20) followed by recent G2 McKenna Memorial winner Sunnyside Zeus ($4.20) and triple G1 winner Jarick Bale ($6), who was runner-up in last year’s Fireball.

Sunnyside Zeus won the other Fireball heat in 42.93sec – around five lengths slower than Untapped.

Untapped (Apr ’19 Aston Dee Bee x Mepunga Fame) has had 67 starts for 18 wins, 10 seconds and 14 thirds. She has amassed $356,288 in prizemoney.

“She’s a tough customer… She’s been in Group race company for a long time.”

Last year, Untapped won the G1 Sandown Cup. She has also finished third in four G1s – 2022 Topgun Stayers, 2022 Zoom Top, 2021 Sale Cup and 2021 Bold Trease.

“She’s a tough customer,” said Drew succinctly. “She’s been in Group race company for a long time.

“And she’s pulled up from her heat win the best I’ve ever seen her. She’s usually a bit flat after a race, but she’s come up enormous.”

Untapped has drawn box three – from which she’s snared one win and two seconds from eight starts – in the Fireball final.

“Box draws are box draws; you can’t control them,” Drew responded. “And if they’re good enough, they can win from any box.

“I just wanted to draw outside Sunnyside Zeus (Box 2). Hopefully, Untapped can follow him through.”

There was talk of Untapped retiring after finishing seventh in defence of her Sandown Cup crown in May. Drew confirmed he contemplated such a decision before a change of mind.

“I think she’ll tell me when she’s had enough. I’ve been very protective of her right through, but she’ll continue while she’s racing so well.

“You can’t plan too far out, but all being well she’ll compete in next month’s ‘Nationals’ (Distance Championship series) and I’d like to get her to another Bold Trease later in the year.”

In another interesting sideline to the Fireball, Drew’s sister Aimee has Zambora Charlie (Box 6) – a $26 rank outsider – in the final.

WATCH: UNTAPPED (B8) fends off ‘old foe’ JARICK BALE (B2) in the fastest Fireball heat last week.

And there’s nothing more Drew would love more than a brother-sister quinella in the race.

“We train them together,” he said. “We’re a close-knit family.”

Zambora Charlie (Dec ’19 Zambora Brockie x Ultra Blue) qualified for the final when fourth, beaten 6.1L, to Sunnyside Zeus in a heat at his staying debut.

A winner of 12 races from 44 starts, Zambora Charlie was transferred from the all-powerful Jodie Lord kennel in Gunning, NSW, to Aimee in August last year.

He only stepped up from sprinting to the middle distance in February this year.

“I think he’ll make it as a stayer,” Dustin said. “He covered more ground than the early explorers in his heat.

“I reckon he’s a quicker dog than Untapped. However, he’s battled niggling problems throughout his career.”

Drew has a healthy respect for the Fireball finalists – particularly Jarick Bale, who finished second (beaten 1.1L) to Untapped in a heat.

“They’ve been two good dogs going at it for a long time and they get to go at it again in the twilight zone of their careers,” he said.

“She’s raced against him in two Sale Cups and a Sandown Cup, and it’s become a friendly rivalry between us and the Delbridges.

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“In fact, they raced against each other in the memorial event for our dad (Ray) at Warrnambool back in January.”

Drew added that Maturity Classic night is a special time for him, his sister and mum (Jan).

“We have cherished all our wins since dad passed away and we’ll always remember his 2016 Maturity win with Kilty Express. It was a great thrill.”

And that’s why a Fireball win with Untapped or Zambora Charlie would be an emotional occasion for the Drews.

Obviously, Untapped is the one to beat…

“Looks like a girl, but she’s a flame. So bright, she can burn your eyes.”

And on Saturday night, we’ll find out in around 43-seconds if…

“She’s on top of the world. Hottest of the hottest girls.”

This girl is on fire!