Holt aims to cap of premiership winning season with Mackay Cup victory

By Glenn Davis

It’s been a season Townsville trainer Georgie Holt will never forget but there’s a piece of the jigsaw puzzle still missing.

Holt has been training for only six years and has her first Townsville trainers’ premiership wrapped up with an unassailable lead over veteran trainer Roy Chillemi.

But, none of her wins have been in a feature race.

Holt will now turn her attention to the $150,000 Mackay Cup on Saturday and is hoping for her biggest ever pay day when she saddles Siren Rock and Arctic Wolf.

Jackson Murphy is booked to ride Siren Rock while Adrian Layt again partners Arctic Wolf.

Siren Rock has never raced over the 2000 metre trip while Arctic Wolf won over the distance in Victoria before joining the Holt stable in May.

“It’s quite a thrill to win my first trainers’ premiership in Townsville and it’ll be great to get a feature race win in the next couple of months to go with it,” Holt said.

Siren Rock has missed a place only twice in 10 starts for Holt since the gelding was transferred from Gold Coast trainer Lee Freedman.

Turning six next month, Siren Rock has won four times for Holt and is coming off a dominant last start win over 1609 metres at Townsville’s Cluden Park on July 4.

“It’s his first start over 2000 metres but on his last run and the way he hit the line I can’t see it being a problem,” Holt said.

“He’s got that will to win which carries him a long way.

“Our aim is to run both in the Townsville Cup but if Siren Rock is a complete failure in the Mackay Cup, then we might freshen him and have a go at the Cleveland Bay.”

Arctic Wolf is enjoying the North Queensland lifestyle since moving north and has won twice in three starts for Holt.

The rising seven-year-old won his first two starts for Holt in Townsville in June before a well-beaten second to the Ricky Vale-trained Namazu in the H.L. Black Memorial over 1800 metres at Mackay last week.

Holt has no concerns about backing up Arctic Wolf seven days after his latest outing.

“Namazu is a very good horse and will be tough competition again but Artic Wolf showed us plenty last start,” she said.

“He’s pulled up superb and hasn’t missed any feed and there’s no doubt he’ll run the trip.”