FILLIES WINNER HAS WIND OPERATION
HOLME FIRE HAS WIND OPERATION
Holme Fire, a 44-to-one upset winner of the $18,000 Nevele R Stud 3YO Fillies Heat at Waterlea on Friday, January 13, underwent surgery for a minor wind affliction on Tuesday, January 17.
Trainer Mark Jones wants to have her at 100 percent for the big fillies races in the autumn.
He was very pleased to qualify the younger sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny (1:53.6) for the big Nevele R final in the opening South Island heat.
“Its good she’s qualified so I don’t have to panic now,” he said.
Mark was able to settle the Courage Under Fire filly handy in the open in the Marlborough heat, then gained cover at the right time when favourite Dancing Diamonds moved up parked mid-mile.
He bided his time in behind the leaders saving Holme Fire for a late dab with an inside run and she responded to grab front-running The Burning Question in the final stride.
Holme Fire stuck her nose out at the right time to win in 1:58.8 for the 1609m, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.2s and final 400m in 27.5s.
Dancing Diamonds was a head back third in a three-way finish, with Vanilla Rose fighting on wide out next.
Holme Fire, winner of a two-year-old Sires Stakes heat last term, wasn’t wanted by punters despite winning her lead-up race at Winton last month.
She has now raced just seven times, for three wins and a placing, for $34,495 in stakes for Queensland breeder-owner, Greg Brodie.
Mark notched a driving double on Friday to advance to 35 driving wins for the season.
He delivered early on the programme with warm favourite Cam Before The Storm in the Hirepool Maiden Mobile Pace, for the Tim Butt stable.
After settling back from a wide gate, he moved the McArdle gelding up parked beginning the final 800m and despite being challenged by Storm Breeze (trail) in the run home, held by a neck in a 2:02.2 rate for the 2300m.
By Jeff Scott