KEY POINTS:
The absolute sign of a topline horse is one that comes a long way through the grades in a single preparation.
Shariat's On Fire has come from midweek maiden class to favouritism for tomorrow's $200,000 Eagle Technology in five months, which is as quickly as that remarkable effort can be achieved.
Co-trainer Paul Moroney has been on the alert that it might be a touch too quickly.
"When they do what he's done you're always thinking they might be about to come to the end of it for the current preparation," said Moroney yesterday.
"And to be fair his work this week, while not exactly disappointing, has perhaps not been quite as sharp as previously."
Moroney said Shariat's On Fire is not an easy horse to gauge on trackwork.
"He's got this odd habit of charging into the first half of his gallops then, with 600m or 800m to go, he'll come off the bit and relax perfectly.
"He did it when he galloped with Kerry O'Reilly on Tuesday morning. Instead of sitting back off him, Kerry O'Reilly raced right up on his quarters and made him work fiercely - he was never going to finish his gallop off that way. That didn't go to plan."
Shariat's On Fire has his future next year from the Melbourne stable of his co-trainer Mike Moroney and the camp know they have a potential topliner on their hands.
"Michael Coleman (rider) has said to us all the way through that he's still a big kid - a baby with a lot to learn.
"He's the type of horse that would be a good chance in a race like the Caulfield Cup, and if he's going to do that he'd have to go close to winning this race."
But Moroney said he's concerned that Shariat's On Fire has crept up to 55kg after two handicap wins.
With some small doubt in their minds, the Moroney brothers will take blood off Shariat's On Fire again today.
"Provided it's okay, we'll run him," said Mike Moroney, over from Melbourne to watch Xcellent gallop between races at Matamata yesterday.
Xcellent will make his much-awaited reappearance in the $77,000 Great Northern Challenge Stakes at Ellerslie tomorrow week.
Yesterday he matched strides with local mare Kirra Sand until the 100m, when his much fitter companion drew clear. Kirra Sand won the Cuddle Stakes at Trenham at her last start.
