HOLME FIRE 2ND IN RANGIORA WORKOUT
Marlborough Nevele R Fillies Heat winner Holme Fire resumed from a minor wind operation with a handy second to Jackaroo Bromac at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, February 18.
The Courage Under Fire filly settled well in the trail for Scott Stewart behind Comply Or Die and finished well when clear for a neck second to Jackaroo Bromac (Wayne Higgs).
The winner moved up parked over the last 900m and held over the mobile 200m in 2:32.1 in the 1-win mobile pace, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.7s and final 400m in 28.1s.
Tiz Tough, four back on the markers mostly, was unable to reel in the leaders in the straight.
There is another Nevele R Fillies Heat at the Hororata meeting at Addington on Friday.
Stablemate Ardlussa Express also shaped well from a brief freshener in the 2-win or faster mobile pace over 2000m.
Also driven by Scott Stewart, Ardlussa Express settled three back on the markers behind Geo Star and Montecrengle.
However, Marlborough Cup winner Mister Presley, last early, moved up parked at the 800m, pressed to the front, and was too strong holding by three-quarters of a length, in 2:33.2, the leaders running their last 800m in 56.1s.
Ardlussa Express finished stoutly for second, with Geo Star, holding third, ahead of Montecrengle.
OK Courage contested the start of an earlier maiden workout, just for barrier practice, stepping safely but slowly.
Trainer Mark Jones intends running him from a stand in the Hororata Cup at Addington on Friday, then will reassess his future plans.
Mach Kana (Mach Three-Turkana), a two-year-old sister to stablemate Christian Seel (1:56.1), stepped out in the 2YO fillies pace.
She wasn’t hurried early and made some ground late wide for a five lengths second to front-running Donegal’s Lucy Creek, who paced the mobile 2000m in 2:40.7, the last 800m in 59.9s.