ON HOLD COMPLETES A RAPID-FIRE HAT TRICK ON WINS

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 20, 2024

A rapid-fire hat trick of wins!

Not many horses win three races in a row. Even less achieve that feat over a period of time as little as seventeen days ... yet that is the story of the Corey and Kylie Geran trained On Hold.

On Hold is, in fact, unbeaten in three starts for Team Geran, after the mare, who had previously raced for trainer David Vandyke, was purchased by GG Racing.

These rapid-fire wins came on May 4 in a BM62 Handicap over 870m at Toowoomba, on May 11 in a Class 3 Plate over 1000m at Toowoomba ... and now, here, in a BM65 Handicap at Chinchilla on May 18.

While jockey Karl Zechner, who is now a valuable part of the Geran team, rode On Hold in the first two of those wins, the 2kg claiming apprentice Landan Sykes got the nod for the ride here, giving On Hold some welcome weight relief from the 63kg she had been set to carry (down to 61kg).

As things turned out, that claim was arguably worth its weight in gold as On Hold (the $2.60 favourite) prevailed in a highly pressurised finish to win yet again in a tough battle which saw less than two lengths cover the first five runners across the line.

Sykes pushed On Hold into an immediate lead at the break, but she was quickly joined by Xerri ($15) and, from that moment, On Hold would have no rest.

Soon, Xerri was likewise joined by Mamaragan ($9) further out to form a line of three leaders.

When Mamaragan didn’t corner that well, it left the duelling On Hold and Xerri fighting for supremacy all the way down the home straight, with a wall of horses snapping at their heels ready to pick up the pieces if the leaders should show any signs of weakening.

Even a slight dent in her armoury would have brought On Hold undone, but the Gearn trained runner never flinched though, staying on well over the closing stages to score a hard-earned victory.

She simple would not give in.

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