Blitzem Rethink Gives Holts Shot at Jewel Double

Connections of exciting Townsville colt Better Blitzem have made a last minute decision to tackle Saturday’s $500,000 2YO QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast.

The unbeaten colt, who has been the medium of big offers in recent weeks, was whisked south over the weekend after breezing to his fourth win at Cluden Park last Thursday.

He has joined talented stablemate Satisfied Mugs at the Gold Coast to give Townsville trainer Georgie Holt a dream shot at the 2YO & 3YO Jewel double.

Holt’s husband Aidan, who leads the Townsville jockeys’ premiership, will fly south later in the week to ride both youngsters.

Better Blitzem’s owners had ruled out a Gold Coast tilt, after his win in the Jewel Qualifier at Cluden last month, to concentrate on the Capricornia Sale 2YO Classic in Rockhampton in April.

But the stable and the colt’s breeder and principal part owner Shaun Flanagan had a rethink after last week’s effortless win over 1200m in a two-horse event.

“It’s a bit more than a month to Rocky without another start and he just came through the run last week so bright that we talked to the owners and said why not give it a crack,” Holt said.

“There were a lot of people saying are you going, you should be going and after he pulled up so well the owners agreed to have a go.

“He’s doing everything right and we’re pretty excited to have him in it and all going well he’ll go on to Rocky.

“So far he hasn’t really beaten much, but I think he’s really untapped.

“He has such a beautiful galloping action, he’s just so smooth and does things so effortlessly and that’s obviously why he’s drawing a lot of interest.”

Flanagan, who syndicated the horse among friends, confirmed interests in Hong Kong and Melbourne had made offers for the colt.

But the focus for the stable and his ownership group remains the Gold Coast and Rockhampton which has been his long range target.

“I bred the horse and you don’t get a really good one very often. I’d want to keep an interest in him and at this stage we haven’t taken it further,” Flanagan said.

“He’s going really well and we’ll see if he can go to another level at the Gold Coast. It’s exciting for us to have a runner who has a real chance.

“It’s sure to be tough but he’s doing everything right.”

Flanagan is also part of the ownership of Satisfied Mugs - runner-up to Group 1 winner Sheza Alibi in last year’s Townsville 2YO Classic - who will tackle the 3YO Jewel.

He and the Holts are hoping for better luck this year after their chances went out the window in last year’s 2YO Jewel when the pint-sized sprinter suffered interference at the start.

Aidan Holt is confident both Better Blitzem and Satisfied Mugs are at their peak for Saturday and is looking forward to riding both.

“They’re both spot on,” he said.

“Blitzem’s third up and I’m pretty happy with how it lines up for him now.

“With the two-year-olds you can go into it a fraction more confident  because sometimes a young one that does everything right, like Blitzem, and handles the big day can get the job done even if it's not the best horse in the race.

“Mugs is at his top too and went down to the Coast earlier. 

“This is the best two we’ve taken down. Time To Prophet ran out of her skin and finished fourth in the 2YO two years ago and Mugs was knocked out of it.

“Hopefully we draw well and they get their chance.”