Bo Out to Prove He's the Best
- Tuesday, 24 December 2002 00:00
Back in 1995 Holder, a talented and fresh-faced apprentice, had to choose between three of Macdonald's stablemates for the same race - Jonquest, Brinkman's Image and Follow The Ride. Having formed a strong winning association with Jonquest, Holder chose that mount, finishing an unlucky seventh. Of course, Follow The Ride won, giving Macdonald his first Christmas Handicap.
"Of course I still remember it - Leon just won't let me forget," Holder said with a laugh. "Every time I have to make a decision regarding choosing between stablemates, Leon brings Follow The Ride up. He wanted me to ride it and thought it was an excellent chance, but Jonquest had been such a great horse to me and I had a real soft spot for him."
Fortunately for Holder, Macdonald has just one Christmas Handicap hope this year - Bo Best. He returned to winning form last start at the track over 1306m, second-up from a spell.
Bo Best drew the outside gate in that race and, despite sitting three-deep throughout, he proved too good for his opposition.
"He's the sort of horse that has to be wound up and work into a race, so it was better having him out and rolling than stuck in among horses," Holder said. "It was a really good effort last start and the thing I liked about it most was the fact that he was very strong at the finish.
"I think he's really matured as a racehorse since last season and, although this is probably his toughest test, he's racing well enough to be in the finish."
Bo Best carried 57kg last start to win but drops to 52.5kg for tomorrow's feature event. Holder rarely rides that light but a lean Christmas day should see him make the weight.
"It will be a lean Christmas lunch but I'm focused on a successful Boxing day." Holder said.
He looks to have a strong book of mounts tomorrow, despite having rides in just five of the eight races.
In the other feature for the day - the Group 3 Port Adelaide Cup (2400m), Holder rides one of the early favourites, Moongara (pictured), for trainer Mark Kavanagh.
Last start, Moongara chased home hard to finish runner-up to tearaway leader Fox Helios in the Listed Port Cup Prelude at the same track. Moongara shapes as a promising stayer and looks nicely placed with 53kg and barrier three.
Holder's other mounts include Macdonald stablemates Harsh Praise (race four), Shalani (race eight) and Galiano for Darren Magro (race six).
Holder is well clear in the jockey's premiership, holding a seven-win lead over Simon Price. Macdonald is sitting third on the metropolitan trainer's premiership with 10 city wins but has his big team spread between South Australian and Victoria.
Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)
