A kidney infection ruled Black Firebrand out of the recent $125,000 to the winner STOCKMAN & Paddock Country Classic series but the dog has picked up a consolation $10,000 over the past week, winning GRNSW Middle Distance Series events over 603m at Gosford on March 15 and again on Tuesday.
Trainer Owen Langley had been keen to test Black Firebrand beyond sprint distances but the dog contracted the kidney problem after finishing sixth at Wentworth Park on February 15.
"He began smartly to win each of his Gosford middle distance races and frustratingly Black Firebrand jumps cleanly at every track except Wentworth Park,'' Langley said.
Langley trains Black Firebrand for Mark Moroney, who bred the dog from his champion producing bitch Tick Away Fire.
Langley said Moroney asked him to take Black Firebrand when he moved from the Hunter Valley to Grafton and lacked kennel space for his entire team.
But Moroney was no doubt encouraged by Langley's on-going success with Arctic Kingdom, who has won three races at WP since being purchased from Moroney by clients of Langley.
Arctic Kingdom, also a son of Tick Away Fire, has box one in heat three of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg on Saturday night but the dog also becomes eligible for Masters races next month as he turns four on April 4.
Arctic Kingdom would surely be a great chance in a race like the Masters Meteor, with heats at Wentworth Park on April 27 and the $100,000 to the winner final on May 7.
Also eligible for Masters events next month is Arctic Kingdom's litter brother FireLegend, who has won 35 of 92 races for Moroney, the most recent at Taree on Wednesday.
"I have always rated Owen Langley highly as a trainer so am not surprised how well he has done with Arctic Kingdom and Black Firebrand,'' Moroney said.
"FireLegend's main aim is the Masters Meteor and he is going great since coming back from a spell in a heat of the Maitland Cup on March 14.
"He ran third to Orara Dan in that race but led early and clocked a near record first split of 7.67 so he should be a force in Masters class.
"FireLegend's dam Tick Away Fire has been a phenomenal brood bitch and I just hope her daughters can throw just as well.
"It won't be too long before I find out as Fire On Ice, who won 22 races and is a litter sister to FireLegend and Arctic Kingdom, has a three month old litter sired by Shima Shine.''
