Holmes looking for first victory

Rachel Holmes has been a detective for almost 17 years but at Palmerston North this afternoon the Thames police officer can nail her first training success with just her second starter to the races.

Prime Silver had her first start in Holmes colours at at Cambridge Raceway on December 1 and finished a very creditable one-and-a-half length second behind start Artanne.

That was the 4-year-old’s first run since March and providing she can do things right from barrier three Holmes believes Prime Silver can go close to winning the fourth event today – the $6500 Cartown Mobile for maiden pacers.

Holmes' good friend Arna Donnelly will do the driving.

"She's been a handful and but Peter Young did a good job with her before me. Arna gets on well with her too. It’s not easy down here in Thames though. Sometimes it would be nice to have more horses to work and trial alongside,” Holmes said.

She said she was only training the daughter of P Forty Seven ‘by default’.

“I only took out my trainers’ licence when Peter retired. He was very good to me and the horse. It’s not easy juggling my work and being a parent as well. I’m also on the Parawai School Board of trustees,” a busy Holmes said.

Holmes was born in Auckland and got into harness racing when she went a studied at Otago University in Dunedin.

“My partner back then was Stewart Campbell and we worked horses out of Ocean Beach. I got my junior licence in 2002 and drove about two winners.

“Today I’m married to Brent Holmes and we live in Thames. It’s a busy old life but I’ve been hooked on horses since my Dunedin days.

“One day I would like to do more with the horses and less policing. Who knows maybe even a racecourse inspector’s job one day,” Holmes said.

The couple own and bred Prime Silver. She is the only foal from their Live Or Die two-win mare, Jupiter Franco.

The 42-year-old has a big chance of breaking through for her first win on the first day of the two-day Manawatu harness Racing Club’s meeting.

Prime Silver will be having her 10th race-day start after a second and a third. She will also be having her first look at Manawatu Raceway and first start over the 2500m mobile.

The toughest for her to beat will be the Brent Weaver trained and driven first starter, The Hurricane, who can overcome his second line (3) draw..

The patiently-handled Blenheim visitor qualified 1.4 seconds under the required time when winning the 2400m mobile in 3:11.1 (mile rate 2:08.1) on his home track on September 17. The 3-year-old Elsu gelding hasn’t been seen since.

One of the highlights of the meeting will be the reappearance of home-town hero, Master Monarchy in the second event—the $6500 Members Handicap for the R50 and faster trotters.

The Stephen Doody trained and Jim Curtin driven 9-year-old Monarchy gelding is the highest ranked trotter (R86) in the field and will start from 45m behind.

That shouldn't pose too many problems for the winner of two of his four starts this campaign, and seven from 28 ($38,652) all up.

Last start, on November 24, Curtin and Master Monarchy won from 80m behind in an R35 to R64 trot.

They stopped the clock in 3:14.4 and came home in 62.8 and 31.6. The mile rate for the 2500m stand was 2:05.1.

Master Monarchy will be attempting his seventh win from 17 starts on the track and seventh from 19 over the 2500m stand.

Duane Ranger