Top Stable Primed for Return to Racing

Premier trainer Georgie Holt is keen to shake off the shackles of the big wet and return to winning form with racing set to return at Cluden Park on Thursday.

Holt will saddle up eight runners in six races and fancies the stable’s chances of landing her first winner since mid-December.

A succession of washed out race meetings and a long overdue holiday with jockey husband Aidan, have meant a quieter than normal start to the year for the stable.

Holt is optimistic about the stables prospects on Thursday, but says fitness would be the main concern because of the prolonged wet weather.

“It’s been a bit touch and go because of the weather, we’re probably going into the meeting with a fitness doubt like everyone else around the region,” Holt said.

“We’ve been working them consistently through it. The first few days of last week after the heavier rain were a bit quieter at the track, but since then we’ve been just rolling through them.

“They’ve been ticking over but unfortunately no gallops. That will be the big question mark.

“They’ll all be on the fresh side.”

Holt holds a strong hand in the Ladbrokes 2YO Hcp (1200m) with smart youngster Satisfied Mugs, Cascia and Royal Prophecy.

The stable will also run Margot Barbie in the Thank You Emergency Services Workers 3YO Hcp (1000m), Sweet Kisses and Mooloolaba in the BM 72 Hcp (1400m), Miss Seattle in the Great Northern Brewing Co Open Hcp (1200m), and Decrypting Gold and Convertor in the 0-55 Hcp 1200m).

Two time winner Satisfied Mugs is a doubtful runner, with the stable likely to opt for a start in the QTIS Jewel Qualifier in Cairns on Saturday depending on the weather and the condition of the Bruce Highway.

While Holt is keen to crank up the stable’s operations and pick up the pace of winners she’s unfazed by a quieter run this summer.

“We’ve lost four meetings through the wet and we also went on a holiday I booked almost two years ago, our first holiday in years, so it has been a bit quieter for us,” Holt said.

“Because of the weather and the programming, our last runners here were back in mid-December.

“But the break was great and Aidan and I are both fresh and right back into it.

“We think we’ve got some good chances on Thursday but it’s the fitness issue that will be the big question.”

She thinks the stable’s leading chances are Cascia, a recent trial winner, and Sweet Kisses who resumed with an excellent third to the talented Sunnycoast in Mackay on January 3.

“Cascia was very good in a trial win recently and she’s always been more forward than Royal Prophecy, who has improved with the blinkers,” Holt said.

“She’s come on a lot from her last prep to now and is starting to put it all together.

“Sweet Kisses’ run in Mackay was very good because of a few factors. She wasn’t race fit but we needed to get her to the races because mentally she’s such a go getter and was probably going a bit stir crazy.

“Just not having enough gallops and trials she needed the run and we went to Mackay knowing she was underdone.

“Sunnycoast is a very good horse and I was really happy with her first up run.

“I’m very much looking forward to her running on her home track.”

Retirement has been put on hold for Miss Seattle after a fighting last start second in Mackay and the veteran mare is expected to race well.

Margot Barbie also has each way prospects after two solid fourths in Mackay but Holt said stablemate Time To Prophet, a leading two-year-old last season, needed to lift after three disappointing runs this preparation.

The Cluden Track, one of the best draining tracks in the State, was rated a Soft 7 on Wednesday morning despite almost 1200mml of rain over the past two weeks.