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Bateup giving Fire chance to bounce back (Kembla Wednesday)

3 minute read

Trainer Theresa Bateup believes Direct Fire has a 'ton of ability' but she knows her lightly-raced talent still has plenty to learn ahead of his latest assignment at Kembla Grange on Wednesday.

Trainer : THERESA BATEUP.
Trainer : THERESA BATEUP. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

The son of Dracarys is only in his first racing preparation and has only had two career starts with mixed results.

Direct Fire won on his debut stylishly in November at the Sapphire Coast before heading to Moruya where not much went right after he was caught wide in a 1010m affair.

He will get the chance to bounce back on a heavy track in the Elite Sand & Soil Midway Class 1 (1200m) with Kayla Nisbet aboard.

"He is very raw and still has a bit to learn," Theresa Bateup said.

"He probably isn't really a 1000m horse but at the same time, he wanted to go that touch keenly in himself that we were reluctant to step him up in distance too quickly.

"The other day he mustered a bit slow and then got stuck on a limb but probably found the 1000m a bit short and never got the chance to catch his breath.

"It is probably a tougher race than what I was hoping to line him up in but in saying that there might be a few more scratchings that can help offset his barrier."

Bateup admits there is a question mark over whether Direct Fire ($11) will handle the heavy track.

The same can't be said for stablemate Mystic Diva, who Bateup will back up from Saturday's Kembla meeting as she looks to capitalise on the wet conditions.

Mystic Diva finished second behind the impressive Yarrawonga on the weekend and will attempt to go one better in the Canadian Club Class 1 & Maiden Plate (2000m).

"I always had in the back of my mind about backing her up because she has been looking for a wet track," Bateup said.

"She went around on the heavy 10 on Saturday and she relished the conditions.

"She was never going to beat Gai's horse (Yarrawonga) and she is not a big filly but she came home and licked the bin.

"I haven't had a saddle on her back, she has just been in the pool since so I looked at the race and thought you know what, I reckon it might fall away and she is looking for that wet track."

Paziah ($8) has been racing consistently this preparation and finds a winnable race to break her maiden in the PFD Food Services Provincial Maiden (1600m).

Bateup is stepping her up to a mile for the first time after the daughter of Pariah finished fourth in a 1400m event at the same track.

"She ran a nice race at Kembla last start and is an honest little filly," Bateup said.

"She has just been coming against one or two better.

"It is a bit of an experiment stepping up to a mile and I am not sure about the heavy track but down at Albury, it was wet and she got through that alright so she gives me the impression she will handle it alright."

Apprentice Molly Bourke rides Mystic Diva and Paziah.


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