“I’ve had some unforgettable thrills since the company commenced operations thirty five years ago, and Fireburn’s two city wins are right up there with the best of them,” said Louis Mihalyka founder and managing director of Laurel Oak Bloodstock.
Sheer sentiment makes the Fireburn story even more special for the former accountant. To begin with she’s a daughter of Laurel Oak’s all time favourite Rebel Dane, perhaps one of the most underrated sprinters of his generation. The stallion contested twenty five Group 1 races in a forty start career under the expert guidance of trainer Gary Portelli. He won a Rupert Clarke Stakes and a Manikato Stakes, and was placed in another three at the elite level. Two Gr 2 wins and another at Gr 3 helped take his earnings past $2.4 million dollars.
“Finding a stud to take him on was a monumental task,” recalled Louis. “He’s a son of California Dane who died after completing only two seasons at stud. Rebel Dane’s dam Texarcana won only three minor races for Laurel Oak but her career was impeded by the ravages of EI. The fact that she was by More Than Ready had some commercial appeal. It was always of significance to me that his great grand dam Georgian Gold was one of the very first yearlings ever purchased by Laurel Oak.”
Fireburn's sire is Laurel Oak's very own Rebel Dane seen here in one of his eight wins The Shorts 2015 with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
With the help of Adam Sangster, Rebel Dane stood his first two seasons at Victoria’s Swettenham Stud but that arrangement was terminated when patronage was scarce. He was later transferred to Glen Eden Stud where more complications arose. A sperm count irregularity resulted in only seven live foals being produced in his third stud season. A veterinary procedure corrected the problem, but Rebel Dane had lost valuable time. Returns for the current foaling season are still coming in, but again his numbers will be unimpressive.
Breeding buffs are only now starting to take notice of what Rebel Dane has achieved after such a disastrous start. He’s had only thirteen runners to date for six winners of nine races. He’s also credited with seventeen placegetters and a prize money tally of $604,000. His most notable performer is the Matt Dunn trained Subterranean, winner of a Doomben 2YO race and the Gr 3 Ken Russell Memorial on the Gold Coast last May.
Rebel’s Edge has won two country races, Lloyd’s Crown won a Sandown 2YO race last year, Rebel Shadow has a win and two placings in the city for Fireburn’s trainer Gary Portelli, while Princess Pancakes scored an easy maiden win at Nhill on Boxing Day.
Louis Mihalyka accepts the trophy after Rebel Dane's win in the Show County Quality August 2013 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Another pleasing aspect to Fireburn’s emergence as a very serious two year old, is the fact that she’s the product of a long term plan devised by Louis when Rebel Dane finally went to stud. “We put together a breeding syndicate with the express purpose of purchasing a few mares to get the horse started,” he said. “I’m pleased to say we found Fireburn’s dam Mull Over at a Gold Coast broodmare sale for just $22,000. She had an ordinary race record but is by So You Think from a pretty tidy family and is obviously going to do a nice job. Following Fireburn is a Hallowed Crown yearling colt and she’s back in foal to Pierata.”
Fireburn has been a thorough professional in everything she’s done so far. Breaker Matt Vella was impressed with her attitude from the outset, and especially liked the way she gathered herself up when under saddle. Trainer Gary Portelli was impressed from the first time she came into the stable, and continues to marvel at the filly’s ability to cope with whatever task is put in front of her.
Following two quiet barrier trials, Fireburn made her debut in a Warwick Farm 2YO Maiden in early December and was far from disgraced in finishing fourth of six after being shunted wide on the turn. She finished less than a length from California Deeply and it was evident she didn’t possess explosive speed. “She’s not super sharp and that’s something we’ll keep in mind when assessing her Golden Slipper prospects,” said Gary Portelli.
“Ten days later we lined up again over 1200m at Randwick and this time she surprised us when she got too keen in the middle stages. She threw the head about for a few strides but gave it away pretty quickly before powering home over the top of Uncorked to win going away. She was at a disadvantage when coming back to 1150m on Saturday, but again found a way to win. She hit a flat spot for a few strides in the straight, but suddenly changed legs and took off. I’m not convinced she’s a true Golden Slipper type. Louis and I are leaving our options open for the time being.”
Fireburn (Jason Collett) wins the first of 2 city races at Randwick 18/12/2021 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Portelli has no doubt about stablemate Sejardan’s suitability to a Slipper campaign. The Sebring colt is already safely qualified for the big one after wins in the Breeder’s Plate and the $1 million dollar Golden Gift late last year. “He’s a special colt with the most amazing temperament,” says the trainer. “If somebody starts a mower when the two year olds are out for afternoon exercise, he’d be the only one to totally ignore it. He’d be more interested in how it works. He’s back in the stable after a pre-training stint and looks a million dollars. He’ll barrier trial on January 20th before a crack at the Inglis Millenium on February 5th. Then it’s five weeks to the Todman Stakes followed by the Slipper on March 19th. That’s the plan and we’ll be doing our utmost to make it happen.”
Gary Portelli has emerged in recent years as a specialist trainer of two year olds. He confirmed that reputation four years ago when he won the Golden Slipper with $20,000 yearling purchase She Will Reign on a very heavy Rosehill track. Louis Mihalyka says Portelli adopts a very careful approach to his early season two year olds, bringing them in for short preparations only. “He lets them sort themselves out, paying close attention to shin soreness. He lets the horses tell him which of them are two year olds, and those that are going to need time.”
Gary Portelli has had a long and successful association with Laurel Oak. He's weighing up options for the talented Fireburn - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The trainer was confident several months ago that Fireburn was a natural two year old even if she lacks an electric turn of foot. “Whatever she does this autumn, I’m looking forward to getting her back for the spring,” said Gary. “The Princess Series culminating in the Flight Stakes will be just what the Doctor ordered later in the year.”
Louis Mihalyka looks back on 2021 as Laurel Oak’s best year relative to metropolitan winners. “We had a healthy number of city winners including Ruby Tuesday who emerged as a vastly improved mare,” he said. “She won two races at Randwick late in the season and was a great second in the Inglis Challenge at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival. Our most bittersweet experience was to see Handle The Truth go within a head of winning his second Kosciuszko. He had it in the bag before being nailed on the line by Art Cadeau. We are so proud of that horse.
“We’re equally proud of Fireburn, our little homegrown filly who has two metropolitan wins under her belt and is one of the better fillies seen out in Sydney so far this season. Who knows where she goes from here. She just keeps improving and has a tremendous attitude. I have to pinch myself occasionally to believe she’s a daughter of a Laurel Oak trailblazer in Rebel Dane. We can only dream that she’ll be the one to provide him with his first Gr 1 success as a stallion.”
Art Cadeau thwarted Handle The Truth's bid to win a second Kosciuszko October 2021 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Fireburn (Tyler Schiller) storms home to win on the Kensington track on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)