The Road to the Cup begins this Friday with the first automatic entry race of the season – the Maurice Holmes Vase, which is being run for the 15th time. The race is named after the great reinsman Maurice Holmes, who won a staggering 18 premiership titles and was the first driver to reach 1,000 domestic winners – a fitting tribute to one of the sport’s true legends.
All seven runners this week have paid up for the great two-mile event on the second Tuesday in November, giving connections the added incentive of a direct pathway to the $800,000 feature should they salute this Friday.
The Lazarus Effect will start favourite after a terrific autumn campaign that included a Group 1 Taylor Mile victory, followed by two runner-up finishes behind Got The Chocolates at Group 1 level. The Bob Butt-trained and driven 5YO trialled impressively at Addington last week, accounting for race rival Tact McLeod with his last 800m covered in 56.2 seconds. He starts off 10 metres alongside last year’s winner Mo’unga, who will have benefited from his run when fourth in the Garrard’s National Handicap a fortnight ago – a race in which driver Robbie Close had little option but to push forward and lead, understandably tiring late.
Also from that race comes Bettor’s Anvil, who impressed on his first attempt at a standing start for the Steve and Amanda Telfer stable. The 4YO settled beautifully before unleashing a powerful finish from his back run at the 600-metre mark to score convincingly in his first run since the end of June. Joining him off the front are Wild Willow, runner-up in the National Handicap, and last Sunday’s Kurow Cup winner Dreams Are Free, who adds a southern flavour to the field.
The remaining two runners are far from out of it. Renegade was a winner two starts back, while Tact McLeod makes a long-awaited race track return. The former Canterbury Classic winner hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Miracle Mile behind Don Hugo and Leap To Fame in March last year, but has had a long, patient build-up under trainer Mark Jones and could be primed for a big run first-up.
The Tyre General Basil Dean Free-For-All marks the return of Mr Love, last-start winner of the Rowe Cup. The Greg and Ben Hope-trained 7YO has had just the one trial against the pacers in preparation but is a horse who typically comes to hand quickly. His biggest danger looks to be Bring On The Muscle, who was superb winning fresh-up three weeks ago for trainer Clark Barron. The 5YO came from a massive 55-metre back mark, a rare feat at Addington, and will appreciate returning to the mobile this week. Matthew Williamson retains the drive.