New Zealand horses making hit-and-run visits to Australia are not uncommon, but there are not many horses that do it in reverse.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Holymanz, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old, made a hit-and-run trip to Ellerslie last month for the inaugural running of the Aotearoa Classic (1600m).
Holymanz finished fourth and was soon after shipped back to the Cranbourne stables of his trainer to prepare for a tilt at the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Victory in the Blamey offers a ‘win and you’re in’ ticket into the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on March 16.
Jack Turnbull, an assistant-trainer with Ciaron Maher Racing, said Holymanz had returned in good order from his trip to New Zealand where not everything went to plan.
“He had a rough run in transit and he slipped a little bit, as a couple did that day, but to pick himself up and run on to finish fourth, we thought he ran a huge race,” Turnbull said.
“He’s travelled back in good order. He’s had a maintenance jump out since and he got back and wasn’t asked to do much.”
Turnbull said Michael Dee will be reunited with Holymanz on Saturday having ridden the gelding in his two previous starts before heading to Ellerslie, including a win at Geelong on January 6.
Mahar will also saddle imported galloper Future History and Cadre Du Jour in the Blamey Stakes, with both horses being first-up off a break.
Future History was last seen finishing 15th in the Melbourne Cup having earned a start in the Cup with his win in The Bart Cummings two starts earlier.
He’s a little bit sharper than your typical stayer,” Turnbull said.
“He’ll want the run, but he has the potential to run top three, top four, as long as he can find the right spot in the run.
“He’s a very talented gelding and he’ll probably go from this onto the Australian Cup.”
Cadre Du Noir will be having his first start since falling in a maiden hurdle at Coleraine last August.
