Emerging sprinter Holler scored a breakthrough stakes victory and gave Godolphin it's first Australian graded win for the year as he stamped his authority on the G2 Australia Stakes, at Moonee Valley on Saturday, January 23.
Emerging sprinter Holler scored a breakthrough stakes victory and gave Godolphin it's first Australian graded win for the year as he stamped his authority on the G2 Australia Stakes, at Moonee Valley on Saturday, January 23.
A brilliant winner in G3 company over the same 1200m course last October, Holler repeated the effort with a display of speed and strength.
The son of Commands took the position outside the leader Sirbible soon after the start and the pair set a strong pace that seemed likely to favour runners back in the field.
But as they turned for home, jockey Craig Williams called on Holler and he responded bravely, extending his advantage all the way to the line.
Williams said the race went exactly as trainer John O'Shea anticipated.
"John couldn't be here today, but I spoke with him this morning and he told me to trust the horse. He said he was ready to run and he was right," Williams said.
"We'd done a bit of work by the time we got to the top of the straight, but when I went for him he still gave me a great kick."
Holler kept up the gallop over the final 200m and was holding his opposition on the line where he had a length to spare over runner-up Churchill Dancer.
Godolphin's Melbourne foreman David Charles said Holler had clearly improved since the spring.
"He was very impressive when he won here back in the spring, but I'd say he's come on from that," Charles said.
Holler is now likely to be considered for Melbourne's major autumn sprints, the G1 Oakleigh Plate and the G1 Newmarket Handicap.
The colt has now won three times and has missed a place only once in his eight starts.
"We'll examine what he's done today first and then John will decide which way we go," Charles said.
Holler's win followed that earlier in the day of Monogram whose win in the ungraded Think Big Stud Handicap at Moonee Valley suggested a bright future over middle distances.
The four-year-old daughter of Medaglia D'Oro led for most of the 2040m under Williams and won by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Miss Maggiebeel.
"That was a very good effort, you would have to think that she'll be very capable over more ground," Williams said.
