It is not uncommon for North Canterbury harness racing trainer Robbie Holmes to have a wry smile on his face these days as his racing team have hit a real purple patch in the last few weeks.
He has changed nothing at home or on raceday but the wins continue to come at a regular rate in recent weeks and Robbie is just enjoying the change of luck he is experiencing at the moment.
Last night at Addington Raceway he lined up the handy C1 pacer Gabby's Star and like most of the Holmes runners lately he didn't disappoint.
A touch slow away, Robbie sent him forward to try to grab the lead but Royal Caroline and Colin De Filippi was having none of it and these two went head to head for the opening 800 metres before Gabby's Star made it to the front.
Robbie kept the tempo up with Gabby's Star in front and had most of the field off the bit and chasing on the home turn but a couple of swoopers started to fly home late but Gabby's Star had enough in reserve to just hold out Happy As Larry and Jonny Cox.
Gabby's Star paced the 2600 metres from a stand in a smart 3:18 with tidy closing sectionals of 58 and 27.9
Robbie was impressed with the run of the Elsu four year old.
" He has had to work really hard for that first 800 metres to get to the front and that made him a bit of a sitting duck really."
" But he has dug deep in the straight and held on well so plenty to like about the run."
" This horse has had absolutely no luck lately, what with shocking draws or being held up at a crucial time so I decided to take luck out of play tonight and go to the front and press on."
"He definitely deserved that victory on how he has been going lately," Robbie said.
While last nights victory was on the all weather surface at Addington, Robbie was keen for Gabby's Star to concentrate on grass track racing when ever possible.
" He loves the grass this fella, it just suits him down to the ground and overall he is better on that surface."
" I think there is a few more wins in him yet the way he has been racing his last few starts," Robbie said.
Postscript – Robbie made it two wins for the night when Clean Break won the C1 and faster trot later on the programe.
Robbie also indicated to Harnesslink in the ringaround earlier in the week that Markim at Methven was his best winning chance for the weekend.
Harnesslink Media