Prophet Spearheads Holts' Chase for Classic Win

Not even a wide barrier draw can faze trainer Georgie Holt about the chances of crack filly Time To Prophet in the north’s richest two-year-old race at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Holt will saddle up Time To Prophet (barrier 11) and Dance for Me Randy (barrier 4) in the $100,000 Lawrence & Hanson 2YO QTIS Classic (1200m) and is quietly confident she can land her biggest win on home soil.

With a second successive Townsville trainer’s premiership virtually in the bag, a win in the time-honoured classic, formerly known as the Great Northern, would be a personal triumph for Holt who runs the city’s foremost racing stables with her jockey husband Aidan.

They have gone to the best of jockeys for both runners. The north’s premier hoop Lacey Morrison will ride Time To Prophet and Ryan Wiggins has been booked for Dance For Me Randy. 

“We’re as confident as we can be with the filly from the barrier. But we’re not taking the opposition lightly whatsoever. There’s a couple of handy horses from good yards that are sure to be hard to beat,” Holt said.

“She’d be our top seed but I can’t knock Randy. He’s done his job so far and he’ll run an honest race.

“Despite the draw for the filly, she has the speed to get into the first three early and Randy from his good draw should also be able to take up a good position.

“I’lltellyougo is pretty smart and goes fast so there should be good speed.

“We quinellaed the Northern Jewel (3YO $100,000) in Cairns last weekend with Sweet Kisses and Ready To Pardon, that was huge for us.

“But obviously this is a prestigious sort of race. It’s one that would mean a lot to us, being on our home track and a race with such a strong history.”

Time To Prophet has won three of her four starts at Cluden, with her only home track defeat coming at the hands of her stablemate Dance For Me Randy in a result that was a surprise for the Holts.

From her very first start when she won the Pallarenda Stakes for fillies back in October last year, the Divine Prophet filly was the stable’s pick as their number one two-year-old this season.

And from that auspicious debut the filly, who was bought for $22,500 as a yearling, hasn’t let them down.

From six starts she has racked up three wins a second and a fourth for just over $110,000 in prizemoney.

The fourth was a cracking performance in the $500,000 QTIS Jewel Final at the Gold Coast in March, coming from last of 16 on woeful track conditions. One of her chief rivals on Saturday Head Honcho finished eighth.

She struck another unsuitable track at Eagle Farm for an unplaced run at her next start but bounced back to assert herself as one of the favourites for the June Classic with an outstanding eight length win at Cluden in April.

Bowen-based trainer Tom Button has rewarded his hard working apprentice Gabby Semmens with the ride on his unruly gelding Head Honcho in the big feature.

Button will also run Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic winner Silver Glitter, to be ridden by Adrian Layt, and gives his two runners a big chance.

Head Honcho, who has a history of head-strong race manners, has won his only two starts at Cluden – the latest with Semmens in the saddle over 1200m on May 17.

“Gabby deserves the ride on Head Honcho and I didn’t want to change the jockey again for such a big race,” Button said.

“She did a good job to win on him last start, although he got a bit strong for her in the run.

“I see a much better tempo on Saturday which should suit him much better. It’s all about timing with him. You can’t get to the front too soon.

“It’s the first time I haven’t changed any gear on him as well.

“He pulled up really well after his last start, he’s a good quality horse and it’s just a case of him putting it all together.

“Silver Glitter will be better suited by the 1200m. She races really well fresh and I expect her to be very strong late.

“It’s a strong field with Time To Prophet, who’s a good filly, I’lltellyougo and Age Of Aquarius who all have good form.

“A few of the chances have drawn out and mine have three and four, so the barrier draw favours us.

“I think both of mine will run very well and with the right runs will be right in the finish.”

The winning combination of Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor and big race jockey Justin Stanley will match up again with the flying filly I’lltellyougo, a winner of four of her six starts.

Taylor and Stanley are both on a high after landing a stunning win with the brilliant Chinny Boom in the Listed Coughlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

I’lltellyougo faces a slight distance query having won up to 1050m but has gate 1 to get the run of the race.

Aidan Holt, who normally rides all of her work, is extremely pleased with the way the filly bounced back from the rigors of a trip south and a barrier trial scare last month.

Holt hasn’t been able to put the finishing touches to her work himself after tumbling from the filly in a barrier trial at Cluden last month and suffering a hairline fracture in a leg and an injured ankle.

“She’s really good and ready to go,” Holt said.

“When she came back from Brisbane she went to the paddock and she bucked for two days. So we brought her back to the track and she felt fine and then we gave her that last run.

“It wasn’t the best field and I thought she’d put a margin on them but I didn’t think she’d win by as far as she did. It was a pretty good win considering the trip away and the travel back and what she’d been through.

“We’ve only had two-year-olds for the past two seasons and she’s by the far the best. She gave me a really good feel from the very start.”

Pictured: Townsville filly Time To Prophet cruises to an effortless win at Cluden in April to stamp herself as a leading contender for Saturday's Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic.

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