Winners Keep Rolling for Happy Holts

Leading trainer George Holt is wondering just how long the winners will keep rolling after landing another winning treble at Cluden Park.

Holt was on top again and opening up a big gap on her rivals in her Townsville premiership defence after claiming wins with Mooloolaba, Hurtle and Winning Kiss.

The young trainer, who prepares the city’s biggest team with her jockey husband Aidan, has now claimed 16 wins from her past 50 starters at a  winning strike rate of 32 per cent.

That tally has included three winning trebles and a double in the past six Cluden meetings.

“We’ve never had this many winners in our last 50 runners. I can’t believe it,” Holt said.

“We’ve been around the 10 or 11 mark before but never this many.”

Holt continued a lethal strike rate with premier jockey Lacey Morrison who guided former Kiwi galloper Mooloolaba to an easy win in the Hygain BM65 Hcp (1400m) and Hurtle to a fourth straight win in the Ladbroke It Open Hcp (1200m).

Regular stable rider Jackson Murphy scored a surprise win for the stable on recent addition Sweet Kisses in the Ladbrokes QTIS 3YO Hcp (1000m) after winning earlier on Eyes Are Lion in Mdn Hcp (1400m) for Mackay trainer Josh Manzelmann.

Holt and Morrison have now combined for seven winners at Cluden this season from just 14 starters.

Murphy has won six races for the stable at 28 per cent.

“It’s great to have Lacey ride for us, She’s always helps out where she can whenever she comes down here. Always a bonus to have the leading rider,” Holt said.

“Jackson, he’ll ride anything, He’s a very good kid and does a good job. Whether they’ve got 54, 59kg, slow, fast, he’s always willing to ride for us.

“That’s why we like him.”

Holt and Morrison lead their respective trainers’ and jockeys’ premiership ladders with 21 winners.

Bowen trainer Tom Button predicted big improvement from classy two-year-old Head Honcho after he landed the stable the first leg of a winning double.

Head Honcho claimed the Ladbrokes QTIS 2YO Mdn Hcp (1200m) for stable jockey Luke Tarrant while Aolani made it a double with victory in the Mitavite C1 Hcp (1200m) for stable apprentice Gabrielle Semmens.

“Head Honcho, it wasn’t pretty. He still does so much wrong. He’s a big horse. When you look at him he looks like he’ll make a good three-year-old,” Button said.

“Luke said he was just really awkward and never really got out of third gear.

“I’d like to give him maybe one more run a month out from the two-year-old classic and spend a bit of time back home just getting him right.”

Heavyweight jockey Ashley Butler was rapt with the win of big finisher Bringyaticket in the Ladbrokes BM65 Hcp (1300m) for Home Hill trainer Darby Amos.

“He won that on class,” Butler said.

“We went back and he pulled so hard. But was good enough to pull wide and run them down.

“He’s definitely carnival class. He’s exceptional at 1200m, good enough at 1300m in that sort of class today.

“He needs speed on so he can unwind that big finish. I’m not sure he can do the same over 1400m because of the different tempo.”

Bonny mare Chilli Jam continued her impressive run through the classes with her fourth straight win in the Ladbroke 0-60 Band Hcp (1000m) for Wulguru trainer Tony Comerford.

Chilli Jam again showed her ability to burn the candle at both ends when she headed the field early and booted clear late for a three length win in a sizzling 55.81 secs.

Pictured: Sweet Kisses and connections after claiming the QTIS 3YO Handicap.

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