SKY ON FIRE

Exciting Exceed and Excel/Elusive Meteor filly Sky On Fire has shown promise from the time she entered the stable.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$400,000 from the Magic Millions' Gold Coast Sale, it didn't take long for this juvenile filly to announce her arrival.

Finishing second on debut at Otaki in September 2022, the performance was substantial enough for trainer Mark Walker to continue her travels to join Te Akau's southern team, targeting the Cup Carnival Week at Riccarton.

Thriving in the south, Sky On Fire was again runner up at her second appearance, beaten only half a neck at Riccarton on 22 October 2022 by stablemate Rhetorical.  Rubicon Crossing was third, making it a Te Akau filly trifecta.

Roll on to Cup Week, with the $80,000 Listed Riccarton Park Function Centre Welcome Stakes moved to the middle day of the carnival - Te Akau was looking to secure its 8th win in the feature for the youngsters.

Visiting Australian jockey Joshua Parr was engaged to ride Sky On Fire in the 2YO SW 1000m feature due to the suspension of stable jockey Opie Bosson.  Looking to take any bad luck out of the equation,  Sky On Fire took advantage of barrier four, led, was tackled by her stablemate but kept fighting and finding for a very good win.

In doing so, she led home yet another Te Akau trifecta with Rubicon Crossing second and Rhetorical third.  She also became Te Akau's 8th Welcome Stakes' winner, an incomparable record.

Raced by the Te Akau Magic Fillies' Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) Sky On Fire has raced three times for a win and two runner up placings, earning $54,070 to date - as well as highly valuable black type at just her third start.