HOLME FIRE NOTCHES 2ND NEVELE R HEAT
Holme Fire, first-up after a slight re-condition, claimed her second $18,000 Nevele R Fillies Heat, this time in the slush at the Hororata TC’s meeting at Addington on Friday, February 24.
The Courage Under Fire filly seems better since undergoing a minor wind operation after she won the Marlborough Nevele R Heat on mid January, missing about 10 days work.
She was sent out the favourite after a strong second at the Rangiora workouts last Saturday and proved too good on Friday night in the wet conditions for catch-driver Blair Orange.
Orange eased her to midfield early to get in the running line, three back on the outer, then peeled three wide at the 650m to range up to the pacemaking the Burning Question.
After going straight past the leader at the 400m, she kept going strongly to hold Gaylee’s Delight, who tried to go with her on the corner, but was left flat-footed for a few strides at the 300m.
Gaylee’s Delight rallied in the straight but couldn’t catch Holme Fire, who held by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:27.7 (2:01.8 mile rate) for the 1950m, the leaders running their last 800m in 60.1s and final 400m in 29s.
Holme Fire, the younger sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny (1:53.4), furthered a good record for Queensland breeder-owner Greg Brodie.
This was her fourth win from eight starts, for $44,395 in earnings.
Holme Fire’s stablemate Christian Seel, the second favourite, was eased to the rear early and didn’t appear to be comfortable in the wet conditions. She ran on a shade in the straight for eighth.