TWO WINS FOR M. HOLMES

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33382, 14 November 1973, Page 8

TWO WINS FOR M. HOLMES

M. Holmes, who had experienced a lean run on the first two days of the meeting, drove King’s Row to win the Australasian Handicap last evening at Addington Raceway. He also won the succeeding race, the November Handicap, with Adios Ned. King’s Row was a good way from the lead in the early part of his race, but he improved to be handy to Kentucky Hanover and Koarakau racing to the straight. He fought on well to beat Deeside, which came from near the tail of the field at the 800 m, by a neck, with Kentucky Hanover holding on for third. The hot favourite, Koarakau, carried $13,120 in a win pool of $22,232. He led for a time after passing the 1600 m and then trailed. He looked to be pacing fairly strongly until he broke at the straight entrance and eventually finished seventh, losing some skin in the incident. Adios Ned responded well for Holmes to beat Burnley Lad by two lengths in the November Handicap. He was always handily placed and came on strongly. Burnley Lad lasted to beat the faster-finishing Thurber Command by half a length for second, with a gap to Bon Heur, which was forced wide in the middle part. SECOND WIN Lessaday became the first horse to complete a double at the meeting when he outfinished the field in the Certissimus Handicap. As a result he is now eligible for the Greyhound Handicap on Saturday. Cee Ar finished boldly to shade Frontier for second, with another nose to Great Applause. Castleton’s Pride was close up next. The favourite. Snoopy,

broke near the 800 m and finished thirteenth. Cornwallis, which was disqualified after being placed on Friday, finished gamely to hold off Star Guest by a neck in the Hayward Handicap. He drifted a few lengths inside the last 600 m, but came on strongly in the straight. The favourite, Grosvenor Globe, after being checked on the turn, did well to finish third a length and a half back, with half a length to Geoff’s Gift and Flying Eagle. Holmfield, raced in partnership by Mr E. T. McDermott, vicepresident of the Metropolitan club and the Templeton trainer, F. E. Newfield, returned to winning form in the Metropolitan Stakes, a roughly-run race for four-year-olds. Holmfield was well back until the last 800 m. He then sprinted up wide out and fought on strongly to beat Hanover Bay and the fast-finishing Bojold. Great Chase battled on for fourth, ahead of Beedeecee and Cotton Jenny, which did well to finish so close after being tailed off early.