Holt aims to tick off Townsville Cup from her bucket list

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Georgie Holt has already ticked off two of her bucket list wishes and is hopeful of snaring another with a hometown win in the Townsville Cup on Saturday.

Holt has only been training six years and fulfilled her first dream in her fledgling career when she won her first Townsville trainers’ premiership last season.

She fulfilled her latest ambition when she won feature races in her hometown last Sunday by claiming the Townsville Lightning with Bones and the Belle Of The Burdekin with Miss Seattle.

“I won the premiership for the first time last season which was one of my big ambitions,” Holt said.

“And, it’s always been my dream to win a home town feature and I did that last Sunday winning the Lightning and Belle Of The Burdekin.

“Winning the Townsville Cup is the big one as it’s every trainer’s dream to win a hometown Cup.”

Holt believes she has three genuine chances to win this year’s Townsville Cup after two previous attempts.

Siren Rock – a Jackson Murphy mount - spearheads Holt’s Cup charge along with Les Tilley’s mount Portnoy and Arctic Wolf, who will be ridden by Lacey Morrison.

“It’s very hard to choose between them and all three are genuine chances,” Holt said.

Siren Rock and Portnoy were automatic qualifiers for the 2000 metre Townsville Cup after Siren Rock won the North Queensland Cup while Portnoy beat a ballot by winning the Winter Cup.

Siren Rock is coming off a last start third to the John Manzelmann-trained Savvy Legend in the Mackay Cup while Portnoy was a dominated winner at his last appearance in the Winter Cup at Townsville on July 29.

Arctic Wolf won two of his first three starts since joining the Holt stable before a last start fifth to Savvy Legend in the Mackay Cup on July 22.

“I was stoked with Siren Rock’s run in the Mackay Cup as it was his first time over 2000 metres for our stable and he had to travel four hours on the float for the first time,” Holt said.

“All his races had been in Townsville until then and he doesn’t like travelling. Portnoy is still a bit immature but he’s a front running type.

“If he gets a nice run again he’ll go close to winning.”

Arctic Wolf is a winner over the Cup distance and Holt is overlooking his recent fifth in the Mackay Cup.

“His form was good before the Mackay Cup but things just didn’t go to plan for him last start,” she said.