Maurice Holmes Vase This Friday Night
Friday night sees the running of the Group 3 $25,000 Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington Raceway.
The Maurice Holmes Vase is the first of three races at Addington where the winner of each race is guaranteed a start in the Group 1 $600,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup on 13 November. The Group 3 Avon City Ford Cup and Group 3 Glenferrie Farm Canterbury Classic are the second and third legs of the treble scheduled to run on 28 September and 12 October respectively.
Friday’s Maurice Holmes Vase has drawn a select field that includes some of the South Island’s more tightly assessed pacers.
Stunin Cullen, the earner of close to $1.5 million, lines up for his second start this season and he is sure to have benefited from his first up run on 24 August after being off the scene for 17 months.
Talented types in Franco Ledger and Ohoka Texas resume after 5 months off the racing scene and are joined by the big fella Franco Emirate who has had a similar break from the race track.
Talking of big horses, the massive Pure Power at over 17 hands resumes, having last raced in December 2011. Impressing his connections he finished an encouraging third in an Addington trial earlier this week after setting up a fast clip with the winner recording 3.13.7 for the 2600m stand start trial.
The very capable gelding Mister Presley the winner of 9 from 18, debuts for the season. He’s been impressive at recent Rangiora trials and after showing huge potential last season will be looking to make his mark in town hall company.
Last start winner Mach Banner who impressed two weeks ago at Addington will be looking to go back to back and guarantee a start for his army of supporters in the big one in November.
The field is rounded off by Rangataua Ray who was a gallant second to Mach Banner when resuming and Lord Mamaduke up from Westwood Beach.
No doubt every runner in this quality field will want to put their best hoof forward and be greeted in the winner’s circle by their connections at around 8.40pm, knowing they have gained a start in New Zealand’s holy grail on the second Tuesday of November.
Ged Mooar
Marketing and Commercial Manager
Addington Raceway and Events Centre
5 September 2012