Holt hopes to increase premiership lead in Townsville

Trainer Georgie Holt is hopeful in-form sprinter Hurtle can help extend her big lead in the Townsville trainer’s premiership when the gelding attempts to maintain his unbeaten record this campaign at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Holt is chasing successive trainers' premierships in Townsville and has a runaway lead with 22 wins, 12 wins clear of nearest rival Roy Chillemi.

Holt has only been training for six years but has built her stable numbers to 15 in work.

"We've had a few good hoses with a lot of ability join the stable lately," Holt said.

"We've just got to keep them rolling along and place them in the right races."

One of those horses to join the stable is former Victorian Hurtle who has found a new lease of life since resuming in February and will be chasing win number five this year in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres.

The son of Capitalist was formerly trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy  before moving to North Queensland at the end of 2022.

"He's been very impressive this preparation and has acclimatised well since his arrival here," Holt said.

"We spelled him during the summer months and he's going well now that's it's getting cooler.

The Holt stable with hoop Ashley Butler and Hurtle after a Cluden Park victory.

"Full credit goes to his work rider Caity Eyles who rides him all his work."

The five-year-old Hurtle took five starts before winning his first race for Holt in a Class 6 Plate in Townsville a year ago and won only once more at Cluden Park last May year before eventually being spelled in September of last year.

However, in his new campaign, Hurtle won his first two starts back in Townsville in Benchmark races before breaking through for his first win in open company over 1000 metres on March 15.

He proved it was no fluke stretching his winning sequence to four with another dominant 1200 metre win against open company sprinters at Cluden Park on April 4.

The Holt stable notched up its third treble in two months at Townsville on April 4 when Hurtle, Mooloolaba and Sweet Kisses were all successful.

Mooloolaba also is a strong show of claiming his third straight win in North Queensland when the Turn Me Loose four-year-old tackles the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1609 metres.

Mooloolaba has won his only two starts for Holt since being moved on from the Paul Jenkins' stable at Caloundra and is coming off a runaway win at Townsville on April 4.

Holt harbours ambition of moving to Brisbane to train at some point in the future.

"We train at a property with 50 acres in Townsville and things are going well," she said.

"But, I'd like to train in Brisbane one day but I've got a young family and schooling to consider first."


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