Wilcox Continues Winning Ways

MARK Wilcox's incredible success with the progeny of his wonderful producer Winning Shiraz looks set to continue at Maitland on Thursday when exciting prospect Burning Fuel contests the Barbeques Galore Winter Cup Final (450m).

Burning Fuel, a March '16 daughter of Cosmic Rumble, is a member of Winning Shiraz's third and final litter, has won seven of her ten starts and she is the fastest qualifier for the $1750 to-the-winner Winter Cup after a runaway best of day 25.10 heat victory.
Making her first appearance since being galloped on in a heat of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic, Burning Fuel started $1.50 favourite from box six and after an average start she swept around the outside and careered away to defeat Roman Red by 5.25 lengths, her third win from four appearances at Maitland.
"I had planned the Peter Mosman for Burning Fuel but it ended up being a bit of a rush job because we had a virus go through and she was behind the eight-ball," Bringelly-based owner/trainer/breeder Mark Wilcox explained.
"I gave her a post-to-post at Wenty and she ran real quick and then she ran second to Sky Wave at her first start there. Then in the Mosman heats she got galloped on and ran last, which is why she had a couple of weeks off before winning at Maitland last week.
"As long as Burning Fuel doesn't get into trouble on Thursday she should run well. She isn't a good box dog; she takes off when she hits the ground. After Thursday, I'll look at heading back to Wenty with her."
While Burning Fuel has started her career in promising fashion, her litter also includes Cosmic Blend, the winner of 6 from 11, Scientific Man, which has won 3 from 6, and Third Vintage, a last start Bulli maiden winner at his third start.
"They had a few little problems early on – there's a lot of bitches in the litter and they had seasonal issues – but they're up and running now," Wilcox said.
"They all go fairly good and run roughly around the same time. They're starting to blossom up to 500 now.
"Burning Fuel is most likely the pick at this stage but another bitch called Surefire Babe, which is having her first start at Maitland on Thursday, was the quickest one. She broke a bone in her leg and came in season but she's back on track now. The problem on Thursday is that she's never been to Maitland.
"Cosmic Blend won five of her first six starts but then had a bit of a hiccup and I gave her a break. She's back now and I'm taking her to Bulli on Saturday. She isn't as strong as Burning Fuel but she is a good box dog and she'll be heading to Wenty soon too."
Wilcox's sensational association with Winning Shiraz's offspring began when his good mate John Free, who hails from Casino, sent him Winning Shiraz's mother Winning Smile, a daughter of Major Fox and Sally Dee, to train.
"We bred with Winning Smile and she threw about 140 winners in her three litters. Winning Shiraz was in her last litter to Bombastic Shiraz," Wilcox said.
"Winning Shiraz only had about 30 starts but she won 10 races. Her litter won about 70 races and I also trained Dawn Breaker (13 from 68) and Running Issue (13 from 50).
"Winning Shiraz's first litter to Knocka Norris won about 140 races. The litter included Knocka's Return (41 from 104), Natural Player (34 from 59 and runner-up in the Group 2 Maitland Cup in 2014) and Highly Respected (27 from 62).
"Buster Shiraz was another good 'un from the litter. He won 11 races and broke a track record but then he did a wrist.
"Winning Shiraz went to Magic Sprite for her second litter and they won 50-odd races. Sweetwater Boy (14 from 41) was a good dog but he ended up having a massive fit. Titan Sprite (11 from 33) was a good dog too.
"There was a bitch in the litter called Winning Secret that had a lot of ability but she only won two races. She won a heat of the big maiden at Richmond in 30.60 at her first start and she trialled 29.60 at Dapto but she was getting beaten in her races and I couldn't work out why. Then one night at Dapto she hit the rail four times so I got the vet to look at her eyes and she was going blind."
While Winning Shiraz turned 12 this month, Wilcox is optimistic the potent line will continue churning out winners in the years to come and he's planning to breed on with one of her promising Cosmic Rumble daughters.
"I've sold all the bitches from Winning Shiraz's previous litters so I'll most probably keep one from this litter, although the way the industry is at the moment I'm not sure whether to breed or not," Wilcox offered.
"I've actually been contacted by some Victorians this week wanting to buy a bitch from this litter. They wanted anyone of the bitches and I've told them I'm going to keep them while they're racing but they'll be welcome to them afterwards."

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