North Canterbury harness racing trainer Robbie Holmes went into last nights Summer Cup for trotters at Addington Raceway with Aile Rouge with one aim and that was to get a line on where he fitted in amongst the best trotters in Canterbury at the moment.
Robbie thought if he could finish in the first five with Aile Rouge in such a strong field at just his second start back from a spell he would be a happy man.
Two minutes and twenty four seconds later he was saluting the judge as he came back to the winners circle and still getting over the shock of winning the $27,000 race.
Away well from barrier two, Robbie quickly settled Aile Rouge into the trail behind Sunny Ruby and then he was posted three back on the inner when Monty Python went to the front at the 1400 metres mark.
Bottled up three back on the inner as they turned for home, Aile Rouge got a lovely gap on the outside of Sunny Ruby and flew the last bit to win by half a length going away.
Aile Rouge trotted the 1950 metres in a smart 2:24.3, a mile rate of 1:59 with closing sectionals of 58 and 29.1
Robbie was thrilled with the performance.
" We only started Aile Rouge in this race and not in race 3 to let Clean Break who was on the ballot in race 3 get into the other Alabar Final for trotters as we thought he was a real chance in that race."
"The aim with Aile Rouge in the Summer Cup was just to get a line on where he stood in the pecking order amongst the good trotters and we were hoping for a first five result at best.
" He has really sprinted when the gap opened up and was going away at the finish," Robbie said.
The son of Love You had been a star during winter racing at Addington but this was a big step up in class to what he had been racing.
Robbie thought a couple of things were in his favour tonight.
" He is really quick off the mobile and the distance was right up his alley."
" The 2600 metres is a bit far for him most of the time but he loves those 1950 races and his record shows that.
" I am thrilled for Jenny (owner) as she has had horses with me since I started training and she deserves a good horse," Robbie said.
Aile Rouge
Harnesslink Media