Holymanz bounces back from horror fall to bag spot in All-Star Mile at Caulfield
Holymanz has come a long way from his darkest time last autumn to have a chance at a big payday in Saturday’s All-Star Mile at Caulfield.
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Defeat in Saturday’s All-Star Mile won’t take away from one runner’s progress since a nightmare outing 12 months ago.
Holymanz has bounced back from a nasty fall in last year’s Australian Guineas to go into Saturday’s $3.75m event on the back of his career-best run.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Holymanz headed for a spell after the Australian Guineas accident in which he was one of two runners that fell, resulting in severe internal injuries for jockey Ethan Brown.
• The Candy Man connection to shock All-Star Mile contender
Holymanz returned as a restricted-class performer in the spring before steadily improving to win the $300,000 Coastal Classic at Geelong in January.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the Coastal Classic win convinced the stable to tackle harder races, including a trip to New Zealand for an unsuccessful raid on an Auckland race.
“Confidence normally gets knocked out of them doing that (falling heavily),” Turnbull said.
“Physically, he came through it OK but he won the Coastal race at Geelong and that was the turning point.
“He had to either win or run well to warrant going over to New Zealand.”
• Pride Of Jenni ‘very fit’ for All-Star Mile
Holymanz returned to Melbourne where he produced a game effort to finish second to Group 1 winner Atishu in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington.
Atishu’s trainer Chris Waller declined to run the mare in the All-Star Mile, creating an opening for Holymanz to tackle stablemate Pride Of Jenni and reigning champion Mr Brightside in the rich feature.
TAB rated Holymanz as a $34 chance to produce an upset result.
Turnbull agreed with the bookmaker’s assessment but said Holymanz would be competitive despite being the lowest-rated runner in the All-Star Mile.
“He’s earned his place in the race,” Turnbull said.
“He’s an older gelding now, probably reaching his peak, and he’s very fit.
“It’s obviously going to be incredibly tough to win but I think it’s a very good prizemoney race and even if he runs second or third, he’s going to pick up a few hundred (thousand dollars).
“The best case for him is if they go stupid in front and Jenni underperforms and Mr Brightside doesn’t show up because we know Holymanz is going to be there and waiting.
“I think he’ll run well.”
Holymanz is one of four New Zealand-bred runners, including hot favourite Mr Brightside, in the All-Star Mile field.
Two of those runners, Desert Lightning and Puntura, are New Zealand-trained Group 1 winners.
However, Puntura’s trainer Robert Patterson had moderate hopes for his charge.
“We are realistic,” Patterson said.
“If he could run midfield and pulled up sound then we would be ecstatic. I
“It’s an opportunity we will probably never get again so we’ve got to make the most of it.”
Originally published as Holymanz bounces back from horror fall to bag spot in All-Star Mile at Caulfield
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