Racing: Hold It Harvey unleashes withering finishing burst

Hold It Harvey ran the fastest time for a White Robe Lodge Handicap with a phenomenal finishing burst from the rear of the field under 58.5kg at Wingatui on Saturday.

Hold It Harvey ran the 1600m in 1:35.15, which lowered the race record of 1:35.20 set by St James in 1989.

The 5-year-old gelding, trained at Riccarton by Terri Rae for her partner, Matt Shepherd, lifted his stake-earnings to $321,075 with the $47,500 first prize. He has won 10 races from 37 starts.

Rae is not sure of the next start for Hold It Harvey, but she will consider the Otaki Stakes at Otaki on February 28.

Hold It Harvey started from the outer in a 14-horse field and Bullard said he had no option but to ease to the rear early.

He was second last and some 10 lengths from the lead until the 600m, then outfinished the pacemaker, Eel Win, by a neck.

Eel Win, winner of the race last year, was far from disgraced, as he was given little respite in the lead by the riderless La Vazza, who had stumbled and dislodged rider Rosie Myers at the start.

La Vazza was actually first past the post by a long neck.

Royal Flight ran on well for third, a long neck back, a creditable effort considering she had not raced for six weeks.

Jockey Lisa Allpress has no doubt Coup Align would hold his own in international competition in Singapore.

Allpress rode Coup Align to win the

Eclipse Stakes after also riding the 4-year-old to win the Pegasus and Stewards' Handicaps at Riccarton and an open sprint at Waikouaiti this season.

The win on Saturday strengthened the case for Coup Align to be invited to the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore on May 16. Trainer Michael Pitman is keen to make the trip.

Coup Align led on Saturday and ran the 1200m in 1:10.4, compared with the track record of 1.08.99 credited to A Gordon For Me in December 1998.

"I will give him 10 days off and get him vaccinated for Singapore. If he does not get an invitation, I won't be too concerned. He will be a super horse at five," Pitman said.

Allpress, as Lisa Mumby, rode Classic Marco to win the group one Lion City Cup at Kranji during a three-month contract in Singapore in 2002.

"I think he [Coup Align] would be competitive there. He would be competitive anywhere," she said.