By Michael Guerin
Kevin Townley may have pulled off a masterstroke by breaking one of his own rules.
The southern horseman admits he wouldn't usually even think of taking on the best trotters in Australasia with a 4-year-old, particularly a mare with just two starts this season under her belt.
Yet that is what Townley will attempt with Solar Fire at Moonee Valley on Saturday night.
Last season's Three-Year-Old of the Year is up against Buster Hanover and Knight Pistol in a heat of the Australasian Trotters Championships and looms as a serious threat to the established stars.
"I wouldn't usually think of taking on these sort of horses with such a young trotter," said Townley.
"After all, some pretty good 4-year-olds have been blown away in this grade."
But Townley says Solar Fire is so good she forced him to take her to Australia.
The mare ran a national 2400m record at just her second start back on Boxing Day and with a 40m start from the best trotters on Saturday night over the 2380m trip, Townley says she can keep winning.
"She is probably a better trotter in behind than leading, but with that much head start I would be mad not to go out there and make the backmarkers chase me.
"She will be fit enough and she won't get a better chance than this to beat these horses."
Horse Racing: Townley superstar ready to fire up
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