Fire Fighting produced a typically tough performance to take Listed honours in the 32Red.com Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton.
Fire Fighting produced a typically tough performance to take Listed honours in the 32Red.com Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton.
Never far off the pace set by Hamelin in the mile-and-a-half event, the Mark Johnston-trained Fire Fighting - having his 25th start of the year - was steered towards the cut-away after the runners turned for home.
There were four in a line two furlongs out, but the 4-1 winner responded well to Adam Kirby's urgings to lead with just over a furlong to run.
Sticking his neck out in determined fashion, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding ran on strongly to deny Hamelin's trainer George Scott a first winner with his maiden runner, having formerly been assistant to Lady Cecil.
The winning margin was two and a quarter lengths, with another neck back to Headline News in third.