Randy Upstages All Comers in Big Win for Holts

The late addition of blinkers proved a masterstroke in Townsville trainer Georgie Holt’s stunning home town win with Dance For Me Randy in Saturday’s Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic at Cluden Park.

Sharper with the gear change, and ridden an inspired race by big race jockey Ryan Wiggins, $5000 purchase Dance For Me Randy sustained a long run in a rough affair to win from Hell Of A Bentley and Age Of Aquarius. 

Holt, who is heading to a second successive Townsville trainers’ premiership, said the win was huge for the stable which is run with the help of jockey husband Aidan. 

“We’ve been saving the blinkers. We haven’t wanted to set him off too soon and I was slightly worried he’d over race. He drew a good gate and that combined with the blinkers and a great ride he was too good today,” Holt said. 

“We work pretty hard to get to where we are and we’re really lucky we work so well as a team and having a win like that on our home track is huge.

“We have a lot of family support here and we really couldn’t do this without them. 

“For us we’ve generally never really been a big contender during the winter carnival so getting a big win in now is a big thing for us.

“Getting two-year-olds right through the early season to this race isn’t easy, anything can go pear shaped with young horses.”

Dance For Me Randy was snapped up by the Holts for just $5000 after the gelding was passed in at the March QTIS Sales at the Gold Coast Magic Millions complex in 2023. 

The Performer gelding has now had eight starts for four wins and three placings for $156,000 in prizemoney.

Despite his consistent record, the stable had rated top filly Time To Prophet the better of their two runners on Saturday.

Time To Prophet, fresh from a seven week break, loomed up at the top of the straight but weakened to run 5th.

Holt said Wiggins had been very confident of Dance For Me Randy’s chance.

“Ryan was very, very confident right from the beginning and said that he was the horse he’d rather be on and he was spot on,” Holt said. 

“Just watching their work she’s that much better than him but I did certainly think he could run in the top three.

“We’ve been keeping work up to her (Time To Prophet) but it’s just not the same as trial and race fitness. 

“I still think she raced well.”

The Classic turned messy at the 600m when head strong gelding Head Honcho took charge of his rider Gabby Semmens and bolted to the front wide on the track.

With memories of Head Honcho’s erratic performance in Mackay at a previous meeting where he heavily checked Dance For Me Randy before Randy won in a photo, Wiggins made his move to go to the lead.

“When I saw Head Honcho head towards the outside fence I was thinking please stay out there,” Holt said.

“I think Randy has a bit of PTSD from Mackay. He’s very horse shy after what happened there. I think that’s another reason why Ryan made a very good move to get out and get going.”

The heavily backed I’lltellyougo led from barrier one but weakened late after being headed and pressured from the 600m when Head Honcho surged around the leaders.

Pictured (main image): Georgie and Aidan Holt celebrate winning the 2024 Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic with jockey Ryan Wiggins, and race sponsors and connections.

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