KEY POINTS:
Holmezy has a new burden to carry heading into tomorrow's Gore harness meeting.
The highly-promising mare has taken over from Nursemaid as the stable star for trainer Hamish Hunter after she was recently retired.
Hunter realised Nursemaid was simply finding chasing the open class elite pacers too tough for one so small.
"She struggled against those top 10 open class pacers and that wasn't going to get any easier this season because the best ones are so good," Hunter said.
"So she is heading to stud."
That has left Holmezy with some big shoes to fill as she tries to work her way toward open class.
She takes her next step on that path at Gore on Sunday where she faces a 20m backmark over a 2200m distance.
Holmezy has looked a talented mare since last autumn and has had little luck racing in tougher fields so far this season.
While Hunter admits it won't be easy to win tomorrow he hoped the mare's standing start manners would prove a help. "She is usually very good from a stand, although last Sunday in the Tuapeka Cup she baulked at the (barrier) tape.
"But if she makes her usual good beginning then she could settle somewhere not too far off them.
"If she does that and the pace is on she can win because she is best when saved for one run."
Holmezy does, however, have to concede a start to another in-form southern mare in Classique, who was impressive winning at the Riverton meeting on Tuesday.
The highlight of tomorrow's meeting is the appearance of Southland star Roman Gladiator in race eight.
He was most impressive winning the Tuapeka Cup off a 45m handicap last Sunday and while he will start off a 50m mark tomorrow, it is a far easier field.
Even though the distance of 2700m is shorter, he should still be too good in his last outing before the race he has been set for - the New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday week.
- NZPA
