Sprinter Rockets to the Top – No Bones About It

Unlikely sprint king Bones will be out to continue his remarkable rise from struggling low grader to top bench performer at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Bones completed an astonishing transformation for Townsville’s premier trainer Georgie Holt with carnival wins in the north’s two top short course events - Townsville Lightning (1000m) and Cairns Open Sprint (960m).

The former Victorian galloper, with premier Cluden jockey Lacey Morrison to ride, will line-up as one of the leading hopes in tomorrow’s Ladbroke It! Open Hcp (1000m).

Incredibly, a year ago the Eurozone gelding was beaten in a Benchmark 45 race at a non-Tab fixture at the Bowen Cup meeting and struggling to find form.

Roll the clock forward 12 months and the seven-year-old was the star performer for the Holt stable during the recent carnivals.

“In his first prep up here we probably went the wrong way with him. Since giving him a good spell and bringing him back he’s been a completely different horse,” Holt said.

“In hind sight we should have put him out from the get go and then raced him and kept him fresh which he likes.

“In his work this preparation we knew he was going much better so we’re not completely surprised he’s raced so well but given his previous form in his first prep for us it probably looks that way on paper.

“Certainly over the carnivals he was a great performer for us. We really haven’t had that much success on the big carnival days in the past. The horses we have do well outside carnival time but don’t really have the quality for the big races.

“We had a few this year that were thereabouts but not quite good enough, but between this guy (Bones) and Miss Seattle they had very good carnivals.”

Short stints in the paddock between runs has proven the key to Bones success and reliance.

The gelding resumed in January and has raced continuously throughout the year.

He will be lining up for his 16th start in this preparation thanks to a carefully managed campaign.

Holt rates Bones the best of her six runners tomorrow, but gives strong chances also to Mista Omega, and Belle of the Burdekin Miss Seattle and Knockknee who will both be ridden by gun heavyweight jockey Ash Butler.

“Miss Seattle had a tough run the other day when she finished fourth to Hell Of A Boy – she always gives 100 pc. She’s probably not up to the big open races over carnival and these benchmark races are more her go,” Holt said.

“Ash knows her so well and he rides her nearly all the time when she has his weight.

“Knockknee just needs a bit of luck. She’s been crucified by wide gates. Ash has been really chasing the ride on her over 1200m. 

“The wide barrier is` again tricky but if we can get out and up there somewhere she should run well again.

“Mista Omega finally drew well back here on his home track and won well last week. The main query with him is how handles the back-up.”

Holt and husband Aidan have just completed a standout season, claiming the Townsville trainers’ premiership with 35 winners and leading in 46 winners across the north.

The stable recently retired grand performer Bold Kingston who won eight races after joining the Holts in June last year.

Pictured: Bones and jockey Jackson Murphy charge home to beat Molongle Surprise in the Townsville Lightning. Bones again line-up at Cluden Park tomorrow.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.