Colin Holmes back on scene

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 32

Colin Holmes back on scene

Colin Holmes, after an absence of about 13 years, has returned to Canterbury and is training a small team on the Yaldhurst property of his father, Allan Holmes. Colin Holmes will return to race driving at Addington Raceway on Saturday when he ' will handle Kabase and her younger brother, Brase, in their engagements. While in Cambridge, Holmes was employed at the Ruakura Research Station and he trained a few horses, including Good Sport, which won seven times before being sent on to North America, and The Jones Boy, which won twice. For the past four years he trained in

partnership with his brother, > the late Kevin Holmes, and I drove seven winners last i term. : Colin Holmes has three horses in work at present and he is helping with the work associated with his father’s team. He has high hopes for South Luca, a three-year-old gelding by H.T. Luca from ■ South Forward, the dam also of South Host, Astron and Southover. A two-year-old filly by Lonero from Black Velvet is shaping well. Her. dam is by Lordship from the speedy Croughton mare, Shantung, the dam of Swartz Pete, Captain Court and others. The team is completed by..

Golden Days, a four-year-old gelding by Golden -Moose from Stackaway, by Fallacy from the Medoro mare, O’Dearo. Brase, which missed much of last season because of injury, has been in work for some time. He is one of the backmarkers in the Ribbonwood Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double on Saturday. Brase has shown outstanding form at times and he could well gain the two wins necessary for him to qualify for a start in the New Zealand Cup in November. Kabase, two years older than Brase, is in the Christ- ‘ church Handicap, the main

race on the programme for trotters. The double-gaited mare has sufficient ability to pay her way this spring. Both are out of Sakeba, the dam also of Saben, Abekas, and Takbaa, all winners. Allan Holmes is also training Gay Pal and Valase, two others from Sakeba. Gay Pal is a three-year-old colt by' Armbro Del. He was worked last season and shaped attractively before being put aside. Holmes thinks , highly of Valase,’a two-yearrOld filly by -Valerian. She is being prepared for late spring racing arid-much interest will be taken in her when she comi'petes at trials in the next_ month or so.