HOLME FIRE UPSETS FAVOURITE
Holme Fire, a sister to Inter Dominion hope Pembrook Benny (1:53.6), booked a place in the $170,000 Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes Final at Auckland on May 6 after a top debut win in the $18,000 Heat at Rangiora on Wednesday, March 23.
“She has kept getting better,” said Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones.
“I can’t fault her. If she had disappointed me she would have gone to the paddock but she’s stepped up every time and thats all I can ask,” he said.
Mark booked Anthony Butt for the drive after paying up with both Glenferrie Magic and Holme Fire in both the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club’s heat, held at Rangiora, and Saturday’s feature 2YO fillies pace at Invercargill.
However, a discussion with Holme Fire’s Queensland owner Greg Brodie, they elected to start Holme Fire from the outside of the back row at Rangiora.
“I was more keen to take her down south but Greg made good point that he didn’t want to travel her that far first-up,” Mark said
“She’s probably a bit more fragile whereas the other filly (Glenferrie Magic) is a bit more of a gross filly.”
After settling last, Holme Fire improved with a three-wide cover behind Gaylee’s Delight with 1000m to run, then Anthony Butt was able to ease her into the running line three back at the 600m.
Anthony said he became confident she would take some holding out after dropping her for cover rounding the final bend.
Holme Fire, as in her trial at Rangiora a week earlier, showed a good turn of foot in the straight, storming home to catch favourite, the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne-trained Shezanelsu by a neck.
She paced the mobile 2000m in a useful 2:28.7 (1:59.6 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.8s.
“I Still like to think the other one (Glenferrie Magic) is a touch better, but this one might have more sheer speed. Its a good problem to have,” Mark said.
Owner Greg Brodie purchased Northern Franco, the Falcon Seelster dam of Pembrook Benny and Holme Fire, in foal a few years back.
“Greg bred one or two from her, then sold mother when he sold Courage Under Fire, as he sold his mares as well,” Mark said.
Northern Franco, now owned by Studholme Bloodstock, is a qualified but unraced daughter of Natural Appeal (p3, 1:59, five wins), an El Patron half-sister to former top Australian free-for-all pacer Panyan, former smart mare Rare Charm, and former Addington Superstar 4YO Championship winner Pathfinder.
“The hardest thing may be to get races for her as the other fillies races are up north,” Mark said.
By Jeff Scott