Holler Runs Away To Outstanding Valley Victory
A well-conceived and perfectly executed plan has allowed Holler to collect the Group win he deserved in the G3 Telstra Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 24.
A well-conceived and perfectly executed plan has allowed Holler to collect the Group win he deserved in the G3, 1200m Telstra Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 24.
After jumping to the front and seeing off some mid-race challenges, Holler raced away to a four-and-a-quarter-length win over Brockhoff with another Godolphin runner, Demonstrate in third place, another three-quarters-of-a-length away.
It was a win that prompted thoughts of more important assignments during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Trainer John O'Shea said he would examine the entries held by the colt before deciding on his next move.
"He deserved that win, he just loves to gallop and he had the chance to do that today," O'Shea said.
"We wanted to get him into a race where he could just go out and roll along."
Jockey James McDonald pushed Holler into the lead inside the first 100m and from then on the son of Commands had total control.
"That's how he loves to race, it was the win of a good horse," McDonald said.
"He enjoyed himself out there today and made my job very easy."
After a victory at his first race start Holler ran four placings in his subsequent five outings, including one behind his stablemate Exosphere in the G2 Run To The Rose at Rosehill in August.
Holler had finished second over 1400m at Caulfield last weekend, the performance prompting O'Shea to drop him back to 1200m at Moonee Valley.
"He's a big heavy colt who just needs the racing to get him fit," he said.
"That's why I was keen to get him back to 1200m and let him run."
O'Shea said he was undecided as to where to place Holler at his next start, he will look at the 1200m, G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington next weekend, a race in which the boom colt Exosphere is expected to make his Melbourne debut.
"I'll look at the Coolmore, but I'll also examine other options," he said.
Demonstrate, with James Doyle up, ran on gamely to take third place in his first outing for almost two months and will also be aimed at a feature sprint over the next two weeks.
