HOLME FIRE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT
Last season’s smart 3YO filly Holme Fire showed improvement with a second to the in-form El Fuego in the 1-win and faster mobile 2200m heat at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, July 27.
“She hadn’t raced for a year but she went terrible second-up. She wouldn’t win a maiden the way she went the other day,” said trainer Mark Jones.
“That was a bit better today. She might just have a few more runs here and we might send her to Aussie _ I’ll just have to see how she’s graded over there,” he said.
Holme Fire showed good gate speed to lead up, was clear turning for home, but trailer El Fuego (Nigel McGrath) was too slick in the run home, coming clear by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:47.4.
The leaders had the speed on over their last 800m in 57.1s and final 400m in 27.1s.
Tightly-assessed pacer Ohoka Texas resumed in the same heat.
Restrained early to last of the four, he ran home solidly first-up without being extended by Craig Ferguson.
“He’s coming up good. We’ll look at a race at Addington on August 24 with him,” Mark said.
Maiden Lavros Is King (4g Bettor’s Delight-Posh Lavra) shaped well, moving up parked for Kimberly Butt in a CO mobile pace.
He fought well but leader Franco Toulone kicked back to hold on.
Lavros Is King was a game second, with Diplomat and Dash on Bye (trail) next.
Top Notch Lavros led up and ran solid time in the 1-win or faster trot, only to be caught late by Proud Quilt, with Ignite a close-up third, in a head and nose three-way finish.
Proud Quilt, trained by Leo O’Reilly, trotted the 2600m in 3:26.1, the leaders running their last 800m in 60.2s and final 400m in 30.2s.