TOUGH FROM DRAW IN JEWELS
Holme Fire, who performed as well as she could from her outside front row draw in the $150,000 Silk Restaurant Sky City 3YO Fillies Diamond at Cambridge on Saturday, June 2, has remained in the north for further winter racing with caretaker trainer Michelle Wallis.
Driver David Butt eased her back to last early, then hopped on the three-wide train tracking up Cheer The Lady over the last 1200m.
She fought on wide out for sixth, being race-timed in 1:55.8 for the mile.
Fortune favoured the in-form Mark Purdon/Grant Payne-trained mare O Baby, who was able to lead out from the three gate, then secure a perfect trail behind Elusive Chick.
O Baby sprinted best in the run home to win as she liked by 2 1/4 lengths from Elusive Chick in 1:54.8, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.1s and final 400m in 28s.
New Zealand Oaks winner Cheer The Lady maintained a huge run wide over the last lap and in the open from the 800m for third, a neck away.
Twist And Twirl, who improved parked for Mark Purdon, couldn’t go with the leaders turning for home but rallied well late to grab fourth, just ahead of Gaylee’s Delight, who raced two and three back on the markers from her ace draw,
Former big-race Aussie driver Natalie Rasmussen became the first woman to win a Jewels event with O Baby (Christian Cullen-Braeside Lady), now the winner of $326,313 from eight wins in 20 starts for breeder-owners, Braeden and Caroline Whitelock.
Holme Fire won her way into a Jewels start when winning her lead-up, a $10,000 1-3 win fillies and mares race on New Zealand Oaks night, May 18.
She delivered well from the second row in the hands of Blair Orange, then travelled north, but her Jewels chance was effectively over when the draw came out.
Holme Fire earned $3750 in appearance money at Cambridge.
The younger sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny has now won $62,986 from five wins and two placings in 16 starts for Queensland owner, Greg Brodie.