Victorians will get their first look at record-breaking sensation Like Wildfire under race conditions on Saturday night when Robert Britton’s boom NSW recruit headlines Premier Racing at Sandown Park.

Described by form expert The Watchdog as the “hottest staying prospect on the planet”, Like Wildfire is a litter brother to Trooper Tears and Trapper Tears, which ran the quinella in the Group 3 Launching Pad in April.

An April ’21 son of Goodesy and Freaky Tears, Like Wildfire has won seven of his nine starts under the guidance of owner/breeder Michael Ivers.

Like Wildfire won his first two starts over ‘500’ and then immediately stepped up in distance, sensationally smashing track records at Gosford (603m – 33.96sec) and The Gardens (600m – 33.88sec) at his fourth and fifth starts.

His seven victories have a combined winning margin of 61.75 lengths.

WATCH: “My goodness! He’s obliterated the track record.” LIKE WILDFIRE (B5) broke the Gosford  603m track record at his fourth start when clocking 33.96sec on May 23. 

After running fifth at his 720m debut at Wentworth Park, Like Wildfire followed the trail blazed by close relations and superstar stayers Tornado Tears, Here’s Tears and Space Star, heading to master distance conditioner Robert Britton.

All eyes will be on Like Wildfire when he makes his Victorian debut at the rare Sandown Saturday meeting.

He dominates Sportsbet’s market on race 7 (8.36pm), a 715m Grade 5 event, at $1.50 from box three.

However, Robert Britton isn’t buying into the hype – not yet, anyway.

“I’ve got some reservations, but it’s better to have a fast dog than an average dog,” Britton said.

“He’s a lovely dog and there’s no doubt about his talent, but I don’t think we’ve proven he can stay yet.

“There’s no doubt about his talent, but I don’t think we’ve proven he can stay yet.”

“We’ll learn a lot more about him on Saturday night and then over the next two or three weeks.

“He’s not the same breed as the other ‘Tears’ dogs I’ve had, and I think this litter are more brilliant than the others.

“I’ve seen freakish dogs over ‘600’ that you’d swear blind will get further, but they don’t.

“I’ve always said you only know when you put them over it.”

Like Wildfire further enhanced his reputation when he made his first official appearance for Britton at Sandown last Thursday in a 595m Speed Star trial.

Like Wildfire stopped the clock at 33.77sec, just three lengths outside Collinda Patty’s 33.56sec course record, catapulting to the top of the Speed Star leader board ahead of the match race series on Wednesday, August 23.

“I thought about keeping him over ‘600’, but with the better ‘700’ dogs in the Nationals this week, I decided to try him over 715m,” Britton said.

“If it doesn’t work out on Saturday, we’ll definitely go back to ‘600’ for the Speed Star and take it from there.

“What I can tell you is that we give our dogs three sections out of the ‘700’ boxes and Like Wildfire compares with Tornado Tears, Here’s Tears and Zagati – he’s right there with the three of them – but they could go further.”

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SPEED STAR STANDINGS

CLICK HERE FOR SPORTSBET’S LATEST SANDOWN MARKETS

Britton also provided an update on Like Wildfire’s classy brothers Trooper Tears and Trapper Tears, which have both been sidelined after campaigning in Brisbane.

“Trooper Tears won in the Best Of Night (29.74sec) at Albion Park, but then cracked a hock at his next run,” Britton explained.

“He had his first trial back yesterday (Wednesday) and I was happy with him, so he’s not far away.

“Trapper Tears had a minor injury and he’ll be back at Sandown on Sunday.”