Ex Kiwi Thriving with Winning Streak

Leading trainer Georgie Holt is confident stable “firecracker” Mooloolaba can go bang at Cluden Park again on Tuesday and bring up his fourth straight win.

The head strong galloper is a raging favourite to keep his unbeaten Townsville record intact in the Become a TTC Member BM70 Hcp (1609m).

Holt, who is leading the Townsville trainers’ premiership with 24 wins from 20 race meetings this season, has been impressed with the former Kiwi galloper.

But while she’s confident Mooloolaba can win again this week, there’s no special plans in the wings at this stage for the progressive four-year-old.

“He can be such a fire cracker we’re just taking it a run at a time. We’ve been lucky there’s been this run of low grade races over the mile for him and he’s been able to win them impressively,” Holt said.

“We’re not really sure just yet how far he can go until he runs up against a bit stronger opposition.

“We’re not ones to make extravagant plans, we’ll just keep stepping him up and see where it goes.”

Mooloolaba began his racing career in New Zealand where he was placed fourth in a Group 3 three-year-old race and unplaced in the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas before racing without success in south-east Queensland.

Holt said a major change of environment from the city to the laid back life at her and husband Aidan’s farm just outside Townsville had clicked with the Turn Me Loose gelding.

“He just loves to run and he’s really happy in his new environment out here,” she said.

“He’s in his element but in saying that it doesn’t take much to fire him up.

“So, I think in a busy environment in the stables in the south there’d be enough going on there to send him off quite a bit.

“We try and keep him pretty calm and relaxed at home and its paying off for him.”

Mooloolaba has taken to his new surroundings so well he literally doesn’t know when to stop at the track.

The gelding has proven a handful for Aidan, who rides his fast work, as well as his race day jockeys Lacey Morrison and Ashley Butler with his habit of charging on well into the back straight when pulling up after his gallops and races.

Morrison piloted Mooloolaba to his first two wins before handing over the reins to Butler for his third win and Tuesday’s engagement.

Holt said heavyweight rider Butler had been booked because of the gelding’s big weights.

“To her credit it was Lacey who recommended we consider putting Ash on if he was coming up, so that the horse wasn’t lumping a lot of dead weight. She was riding 54kg that day,” Holt said.

“Lacey loves the horse and knows he has a bright future. You don’t get that very often, where a jockey is prepared to get off a horse they know will most likely win.

“Lacey knows that when the horse doesn’t get Ashley’s weight she’ll be straight back on him.”

Morrison rode Mooloolaba in his first two wins and Butler was aboard last start when the four-year-old took charge in front, but cruised to his easiest win to date.

While Mooloolaba’s winning streak rolls on for Holt, she’s hoping to see positive signs from two other runners on the day – last year’s Lightning winner Bones and newcomer Irish Maudie.

Bones ran last in a field of six when resuming on a firm track in Bowen and, although fitter, will tackle a stronger field on his home track in the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1000m).

Irish Maudie will line-up as a solid light weight chance in the Tradies Race Day May 17 BM55 Hcp (1200m) after a good mid-field effort over 1000m at her first Townsville run.

The meeting kicks off with the Carnival Tickets On Sale Now Maiden Hcp (1609m) at 1:27PM.

Pictured: Where are they? Jockey Ash Butler cranes his neck to see where the opposition is on his way to Moolooaba's third straight win at Cluden last month. The pair will be out for more success at Cluden on Tuesday.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.

Tony's Top Tips

Best Bet: R4. Purpose 'N' Vision

Best Value: R5. Don Arcangelo