Firestorm announces herself as Coolmore Classic contender with brilliant win in Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill

Firestorm maintained her excellent fresh record with a barnstorming win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill and a Group 1 target is now in her sights.

Firestorm scores her first stakes win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Classy mare Firestorm added to her outstanding fresh record and laid down a Group 1 Coolmore Classic marker following her maiden stakes triumph at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

As odds-on favourite Makarena failed to fire, the Chris Waller-trained Firestorm surged down the outside to edge out Dark Glitter in the Group 2 $300,000 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m).

“Each time she’s stepped out first-up basically she’s won,” Waller said.

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“It was a lovely ride from Jason, she was well prepared for the race today, two trials and we expected her to show something but to win a Group 2 it was a big step up for her.

“It puts a lot of value on her. She has come back really well.”

Firestorm has now won four of her five first-up runs but her latest was undoubtedly the most significant of her career.

The four-year-old had run in stakes races on 12 occasions before Saturday and finally added a valuable black-type victory to her resume.

It came in thrilling circumstances after Firestorm was forced to hold off a slashing run from Dark Glitter.

Jockey Jason Collett had put Firestorm ($7.50) in an ideal position and had her travelling nicely midfield and position one off the fence.

He helped the daughter of Satono Aladdin build momentum from the top of the straight and hit top gear inside the final furlong.

Mike Van Gestel’s flying mare Dark Glitter ($31) made a surging run closest to the fence but was edged out by a long head.

Waller’s Scarlet Oak ($10) was 1½ lengths back in third.

Right down the outside! 🔥 Firestorm blows them away in the G2 Millie Fox Stakes!@cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/2vLJ5tV8xU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

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“She was really well today,” Collett said.

“She was in a great frame of mind and even in the run, albeit three pairs back, moderate tempo, I still felt I was going to be running on strongly.

“Makarena is obviously a good horse, sitting up outside the lead, dictating the speed. I was a little concerned, but she had that extra gear and when I got to them at the 150m, she just went on with it.

“That was pretty good.”

Waller has now won the Millie Fox Stakes on seven occasions and back-to-back years following Zougotcha’s victory 12 months ago.

He confirmed Firestorm will now line up in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 15 at Rosehill Gardens.

Bookies shortened her from $26 into $15 for the major test.

Waller is content to keep Firestorm over shorter middle distances trips this campaign after testing the mare over 2000m and beyond at times during her past two preparations.

“Each time first-up , she’s basically won”

Here’s what @cwallerracing and Jason Collett thought of Firestorm’s Millie Fox win!

@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/zsHdvUwcoQ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

“I don’t think she gets too far, maybe a mile but beyond that I wouldn’t, so now that we’ve learned to keep her a little shorter and sharper, we will probably head to a race like the Coolmore,” Waller said.

Waller was also rapt with the return of stablemate Scarlet Oak after the mare only had one run during the Spring Carnival due to injury.

“She has had a pretty long lay-off from a significant neck injury so it was a good run and she will appreciate stepping up to 1500m to a mile,” Waller said.

Zac Lloyd added that he thought Scarlet Oak “peaked” over her final 100m.

Hot pot Makarena was supported from $3.50 in early betting to a clear $1.65 favourite but failed to deliver for punters after being made to work early in the run.

The Michael, Wayne and John Wayne Hawkes-trained mare faded late to finish fourth, however, jockey Tyler Schiller thought there was plenty of merit to the run.

“I thought she was great first up. Just had to do a bit too much work from the gate,” he said.

Dark Glitter’s jockey Reece Jones admitted he “thought she had it” but just came up short.