‘MAGIC’ OUT OF FINAL
Overport trainer Mark Jones has been left with only one starter _ Holme Fire _ in the $170,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Fillies championship at Auckland on Friday night, May 6.
Stablemate Glenferrie Magic was withdrawn on Tuesday after suffering from muscle tie-up, the end result of waiting in Blenheim for three-four days then having a rough ferry crossing from Picton to Wellington.
“Its a shame because she was as good as we could get her before she went up,” said trainer Mark Jones.
Mark said she would have been very hard to beat at Auckland if she was in the same form as when she won her Sires Fillies Heat at Forbury last month.
“She hoppled up on Saturday morning and went pretty good but she was crook on Saturday night. I had a better report today but I’d rather bring her home and get her ready for the Jewels,” he said.
Both Glenferrie Magic and Holme Fire and booked to fly back to Christchurch on Sunday morning.
Mark said Anthony Butt will retain the drive behind Holme Fire for Friday’s Group One.
“I don’t worry as much as some drivers about keeping the drive,” he said.
“She (Holme Fire) seems good. The club cancelled the two-year-old race last week and the club were good putting her in two other races, but I decided to trial her on Saturday instead.”
Holme Fire, shown winning her Sires’ Heat at Rangiora. She has drawn well for Friday night’s final.
Holme Fire has drawn barrier three for Friday’s 1700m dash for cash.
Mark expects Dancing Diamonds and Veste, from the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne stable, and the Ian Small-trained Cowgirls N Indians, to be the hardest to beat.