Fireball was bred by Michael O’Keeffe and foaled and raised at Yarraman Park. His dam, Advance Party, had been a A$75,000 Inglis Classic yearling purchase for O’Keeffe and won twice at provincial level under Bryce Heys. Her family offered reasons to retain her for breeding: her grandmother, Countess Christie, was a multiple stakes winner whose victories included the Magic Night Stakes and Sweet Embrace Stakes.

Sending Advance Party to Snitzel brought together a combination already responsible for Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and talented sprinter Remarque. Fireball’s pedigree also carries Redoute’s Choice twice within its first three generations, through Snitzel and his maternal grandmother, Luanne. It was a mating that combined proven juvenile speed with a female family that had already produced successful two-year-olds.

Fireball was offered by Yarraman Park as Lot 271 at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts purchased him for A$460,000. He joined their colt investment partnership and entered training with Chris Waller, with a future stallion career dependent on what he could establish on the racecourse.

The purchase also gave him access to the Inglis Race Series. Less than a year later, he won its A$2 million Inglis Millennium, before adding the Group 1 Champagne Stakes to give his owners the top-level success particularly valuable to a colt bought with breeding ambitions.

Fireball made a winning debut over 1100 metres at Rosehill on 29 November 2025, defeating Tigroni by a length under Tommy Berry. He was then spelled before returning for the Inglis Millennium at Randwick on 7 February. James McDonald had questioned whether the inexperienced colt was ready for the pressure of a large field, but Fireball responded when asked, finishing strongly down the outside to defeat Ghana’s Akan by 0.7 lengths.

His unbeaten run ended when he finished sixth behind Campione D’Italia in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes on 28 February, although he was beaten only 1.4 lengths. He then finished seventh behind Guest House in the Golden Slipper on 21 March. Despite being unable to match the leaders’ acceleration, his strength through the finish encouraged Waller to continue towards the longer juvenile races.

Stepping up to 1400 metres, Fireball finished third behind Campione D’Italia in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes on 4 April. That performance earned him another opportunity over 1600 metres in the Champagne Stakes a fortnight later. His ability to keep coping with a demanding autumn campaign was part of Waller’s decision to press on.

The Champagne produced his defining performance of the season. Tim Clark secured an economical passage from the inside barrier before bringing him into contention in the straight. Campione D’Italia swept up and appeared to have the race won with 200 metres remaining, but Fireball fought back to prevail by a narrow margin, with Diameter third in a Waller-trained trifecta. The victory rewarded his toughness and established that his early speed could carry him to Group 1 success over a mile.

This part of the story is waiting to be written.