Moroney Eyes Wow Moment In Lismore Cup

TRAINER Mark Moroney is drawing inspiration from Wow's stunning Goulburn Cup victory as he prepares Fire Legend for Tuesday night's Group 2 Lismore Gold Cup Final (520m).

Fire Legend will be chasing back-to-back Lismore Cups in Tuesday's $40,000-to-the-winner finale just 48 hours after Wow landed consecutive Goulburn Cups in near record fashion on Sunday.

"After watching Wow win so impressively yesterday I was thinking it would be something if Fire Legend could do the same thing at Lismore," Moroney said.

"I remember being glad last year not having to race Wow at Lismore with the races clashing and 12 months on it is the same again.

"But to win last year's Lismore Cup we had to beat dogs like Oh Mickey, Sequana and All Hands Off and it's no easier on Tuesday night. It's a very good field. Just as you would expect."

Moroney describes Fire Legend as an ultimate professional.

FIELDS AND FORM LISMORE TUESDAY

And it's hard to argue, the son of Fernando Bale racing 81 times for 31 wins and 25 placings with $168,153 in prize money.

"That's what I'll be calling him when he goes to stud – the ultimate professional," Moroney said.

"He's missed a place just once in his past 10 starts and that was a fourth at Dapto behind Zipping Kyrgios and Good Odds Cash in the State Sprint Final.

"He doesn't always run the quickest time but he finds a way to get the job done and creates his own luck. He's just a marvel of a dog. When he was in Victoria I'm pretty sure he won on just about every track."

Mark Moroney has been eyeing off back-to-back Lismore Cups with Fire Legend – and he's one step closer tonight after his 'legend' of a chaser took out the final heat…

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— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) October 19, 2021

Fire Legend will exit box eight in his quest for back-to-back Lismore Cups on Tuesday night after qualifying for the final with a determined 29.88 box one heat win.

TAB Fixed Odds have Fire Legend at $4.20 behind favourite and fastest qualifier Louis Rumble (box 3) at $2.30 while Cash View (box 1) is at $4.00.

"I would have rathered box one or two but after that box eight is probably next best for him," Moroney said. "His box eight record is pretty handy.

"He won a Group 1 heat at Sandown earlier this year and there's nothing else in the race that can lay claim to that so I do think he's the class runner.

"Louis Rumble went great last week and will be hard to beat. To be a chance we need to get a spot going through the first corner and be in the race through the catching pen.

"And that's the best thing about this fella. You know he'll give you everything he has each time he races."

Already in Grafton ahead of Tuesday night's Lismore Cup, Moroney will watch from afar as partner Melissa handles Buzz Junkie in Monday night's Future Stars Final (400m) at Maitland.

Last week the son of Ritza Lenny and Zipping Spring qualified for the $15,000-to-the-winner finale with an impressive 22.61 debut heat win.

"He went the slowest of the heats but was only four lengths off the quickest," Moroney said.

"I really like the dog. He's only had eight or nine trials going into this series and is improving all the time and I expect him to find more again going into the final.

"It's the first dog I've had for his owner Nick Lalli and I've told him in a few months time I think he'll have a really nice dog.

"He's only 19 months and is still learning but has a great attitude. You could take his lead off 10 metres from the boxes and he'd walk in himself.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all if you ran a big race in the final. There's a lot to like about him going forward."