Racing: Luck needed reaching track

An outstanding run of form for Robbie Holmes could get even better today as he seeks group one success as a driver and a significant milestone as a trainer.

The hard-working Holmes is in the midst of his most successful season and needs just two more wins to total 100 for his training career. Should he achieve that landmark at Nelson this afternoon, though, its importance may well be superseded in the evening if he can rein Gretamaro to victory in the group one Caduceus Club Fillies Classic.

For that to happen, however, Holmes will be relying not only on luck in the running but also in the Auckland traffic.

Two weeks ago Gretamaro provided Holmes with the first group one win as a driver when victorious in the Sires Stakes Fillies Championship.

On that occasion she had what appeared to be the worst possible barrier draw over 1700m, the extreme outside of the front line. Ultimately the draw turned into a blessing, however, as Gretamaro was eased back and wasn't handy to the brutal early speed that destroyed many rivals' chances.

"That's how peculiar racing can be, I suppose," said Holmes. "Had we drawn handily on the front last time then we'd have been up there in the rush early on. As it was, everything worked out perfectly for us."

Tonight a different challenge presents itself, with Gretamaro drawn on the inside of the second line.

The horse she will probably follow through is Cruzee Lass, with Bachelorette drawn one but needing a scratching to make the field.

"I'd prefer to follow out Cruzee Lass," said Holmes. "She was good out of the gate the other night but got left out wide.

"But if I get the chance then I wouldn't mind getting off the inside.

I'm a believer that there's more opportunity out wider and you've got to be going around them when they're improving.

"I was always taught to put your horse in the race when you can. Sometimes you aren't able to, but if you're not in the firing line you haven't got a chance."

Holmes rates the favourite for tonight's race, Western Dream, as the hardest to beat.

The big Tony Herlihy trained filly was a beaten favourite in the Fillies Championship but had to work terribly hard to get to the front after skipping for a few strides early in the race.

"Western Dream is much better than she went last time and the run of Lifeswhatyoumakeit was also good. They've also both beaten Gretamaro before, although that day they both had slightly better runs," said Holmes.

Before he can fully focus on tonight's feature, however, Holmes has a busy day at this afternoon's Nelson meeting, followed by a 5:30pm flight to Auckland.

Indeed, Holmes' mere presence for the feature at Alexandra Park tonight is reliant on airline punctuality and Auckland motorway non-congestion, not exactly the safest bets in the world.

Of his team at Nelson, Holmes rates Urgently in race eight as probably his best chance. The son of Beach Towel hasn't raced since July last year but won well at the Rangiora workouts earlier this week.

"He went some nice races as an early 3-year-old," said Holmes, "but he fell away in condition and we ended up spelling him for much longer than we'd planned. He's come back well this time, though."

Holmes also has high hopes for Make It Real, whom he drives in race nine for trainer Grant Johnston. Make It Real won two races in Victoria as a 2-year-old before joining the Canterbury stable of Graham Court, where he also won two races.

Although this afternoon's race will be his first for well over two years, he showed his fitness when beating Classy Cullen at Tuesday's workouts, running the last half-mile in a session-best 57.7s.

Fillies Classic

* Group one race for 2-year-old fillies.

* Trainer/driver Robbie Holmes believes Gretamaro has the measure of her rivals.

* Holmes rates the favourite, the Tony Herlihy trained Western Dream, as hardest to beat.