Holt still has southern ambitions after QTIS Jewel

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Georgie Holt hopes her star colt Satisfied Mugs could help pave the way for a move to the big smoke if the diminutive youngster wins the two-year-old QTIS Jewel Final at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Holt has been training since the 2016-17 campaign and has already claimed two Townsville trainers’ premierships but doesn’t want to rest on her laurels by winning titles in the north.

One day, she hopes to make a permanent move south with her husband, Aidan Holt, who was a former Brisbane apprentice jockey. 

Holt has had a handful of chances but is yet to win a metropolitan race and finished fourth at her only previous QTIS Jewel Final attempt with Time To Prophet in last year’s two-year-old feature.

“One day I’d love to train in the south,” Holt said.

“But, for the time being I’m busy with two boys, a six-year-old and a three-year-old.

“It’s a matter of picking the right time and if we do go I’d love to train at the Sunshine Coast as that’s where I came from when I used to work for Darryl Hansen.

“I ran fourth in this race last year with Time To Prophet but he missed the start.”

Satisfied Mugs was a $23,000 buy as a yearling and has won three of his four starts in Townsville and Cairns.

Holt believes Satisfied Mugs is only around 15 hands but he has grown slightly in recent months which is one reason she hasn’t gelded him.

Satisfied Mugs completed a hat-trick of wins at his last appearance when he led all the way for a near five length win in the QTIS Jewel qualifier at Cannon Park last month.

Holt is buoyed by Satisfied Mugs proving himself on a heavy track in his Jewel qualifier victory.

“He’s done well for us but he hasn’t really beaten much up this way,” Holt said.

“He should have won his first start as well.

“He’s a gun little horse but whether he gets 1200 metres is still the big question mark.

“We think he’ll probably lead and he’ll given them something to chase.”