Holymanz bounces back from unplaced Cranbourne run to win Coastal Classic at Geelong

Holymanz could take an unusual route to the All-Star Mile after winning the inaugural Coastal Classic at Geelong.

Michael Dee rides Holymanz to victory in the inaugural Coastal Classic at Geelong. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Holymanz could take a roundabout path into the All-Star Mile after his win in the inaugural Coastal Classic at Geelong.

Holymanz bounced back from failing to see out 2025m at Cranbourne last November with making the most of a 6.5kg weight drop to win the $300,000 Coastal Classic.

Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are likely to put the gelding on a plane to New Zealand, the homeland of his owners Brendon and Jo Lindsay, to race in $NZ1m contest for four-year-olds at the Karaka Million meeting later this month.

Winning that race would guarantee Holymanz a place in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield in March.

Holymanz wins the Coastal Classic! 🏅 @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/m5fUVz3EGj

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 6, 2024

“We set this horse for this race with its very good prizemoney,” Maher and Eustace’s representative Jack Turnbull said.

“It leads onto a nice option at the Karaka Million (meeting) in three weeks’ time.”

Holymanz showed Group ability last second when third in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) but fell in the Group 1 Australian Guineas last March.

Turnbull said Holymanz has done well to bounce back from the fall to win at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and again at Geelong on Saturday.

“He’s progressive,” Turnbull said.

“He had a tumble in the Guineas and was travelling into it at that point.

“Even to come back to winning form is fantastic.”

Holymanz races clear to win the Coastal Classic. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Jockey Michael Dee joked that he copped some stick at trackwork in the days after Holymanz missed a place at Cranbourne but squared the ledger when he gave the son of Almanzor the perfect run with the minimum weight.

“I didn’t think I went too early (at Cranbourne) but I turned up to trackwork the next week and I was told I went too early,” Dee said.

“I made amends there.

“He was going well, he was fresh and had a space between runs, he was back to 1700(m).

“Especially with the light weight (53kg), it was the perfect recipe.

“He really towed me into it coming down the hill and he made pretty easy work of it.”

Holymanz was the best-backed runner in the Coastal Classic, firming to start as the $3.20 favourite.

The Mike Moroney-trained Bermadez chased honestly to grab second ahead of the $71 chance Don’t Doubt Dory, who turned in an improved effort after struggling first-up at Caulfield.

Originally published as Holymanz bounces back from unplaced Cranbourne run to win Coastal Classic at Geelong