Melbourne colt Holyfield has firmed in the betting for the Inglis Sires’ after scoring a tough win in the Group 3 $160,000 Schweppervesence (1400m) at Rosehill today.
Holyfield, above, scores a tough win in the Schweppervesence T Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have wound in Holyfield’s price from $51 top $12 for the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships on April 4.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Holyfield was strong at the end of the 1400m of the Scheweppervesence and stable representative Annabel Neasham said that the I Am Invincible colt is going to relish the step up to the 1600m of the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes at Randwick on April 18.
“If we are still racing we’ll probably press onto a Champagne,” Neasham said.
“I suppose in Europe they are off the bridle a longer out and they keep on finding. He rides them a bit like that here.”
“We knew he would find the seven furlongs easy. He won over this trip second up at Sandown.”
“A massive congratulations to Phoenix and Aquis – the same partnership of Farnan and Prague. They are having a great run of it. Hopefully it continues.”
“You wouldn’t think so. It is good to see he is versatile on ground. He has always worked pretty well on the softer tracks but it is good to see them do it on raceday.”
In-form visiting English jockey Tom Marquand had Holyfield ($8.50) in the firing line from the outset and put him to the test as soon as heads were turned for home.
Holyfield responded to Marquand’s hard riding over the concluding stages and the colt went on to record a three quarters of a length win over the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Untamed ($17).
Equal favourite Time Is Precious ($5) ran on in the straight to find third position while the other equal favourite I Am Swerving finished fifth.
“Wasn’t it tough!? It was a super ride, we don’t ever want Tom (Marquand) to go home, hopefully he is stuck here for a while,” Neasham said.
“He (Holyfield) is always quick away, we thought he would end up in that spot. They all concertinaed up towards the turn but he kicked for home and he just kept finding the line.”
