Shadows just seems to follow Holmes D G around.
They are the dark side of his career. His great deeds overshadowed by the greater deeds of others. His commanding victories undermined by his sometimes inexplicable defeats.
The pacing machine in plain wrapping has always been second best - even in victory.
As a 3-year-old he won four Derbys and was voted age group pacer of the year. Yet still everybody knew Christian Cullen was better.
At four he won the Victoria Cup and Chariots Of Fire, but still lived in the shadows of the brightest lights harness racing has ever seen - Christian Cullen and Courage Under Fire.
Then last season he won the Miracle Mile, NZ Free-For-All and Trueur Memorial on his way to becoming the Grand Circuit champion. And a millionaire.
He couldn't even win Pacer of the Year.
The reasons Holmes D G has won enough races to be a champion but is not considered one are complex.
He suffers for being professional but not flashy. From mixing ill-timed defeats with his greatest wins, like his dramatic form slump during last season's Interdominions.
But the single biggest reason Holmes D G is not a champion is because of the New Zealand Trotting Cup. A champion would have won last season's Cup given Holmes D G's run.
He led, wasn't attacked and shot clear at the 200m before Homin Hosed grabbed him on the line.
This is New Zealand's greatest horse race - of either code - and Holmes D G threw it away. He dived into the shadows again.
But today he gets his chance to stand in the sun. To grab what he deserves. To be a hero. And Barry Purdon wants it so bad for his stable star he can taste it.
"To get the recognition he deserves he has to win the New Zealand Cup, simple as that," says Purdon.
"He has won a lot of great races and I know what a super horse he is but in this country the Cup is the big one and very few horses can be called champions unless they win it."
Last season Purdon was hoping to drive his first New Zealand Cup winner. This year that is a secondary concern. He wants Holmes D G to win for Holmes D G.
If the race was anything but 3200m Holmes D G would be a warm favourite, especially with a 10m start over Yulestar. But it is 3200m and Holmes D G has a poor record over the longest trips.
"I don't see any reason why he won't run 3200m but I also understand those critics who say he has been disappointing over 3200m. We will just have to prove them wrong."
That if where the seige mentality kicks in and that is when Purdon is at his best. When he feels it is him against the world.
He drops the guard for a second, revealing he has been working day and night on Holmes D G for two weeks since his Kaikoura Cup failure, swapping an expected final public trial for a dazzling private workout at Addington last Wednesday.
It was the sort of workout that put big words into the big man's mouth.
"I have been putting the work into him and he is better now than he has ever been," said Purdon.
A lot of horse trainers use that as a throw-away confidence booster on the eve of a big race but Purdon means it. He repeats just to make sure you understand.
"I mean it, he is the best he has ever been. There will be no excuses."
So if the best horse in the race is at his best what stands in his way?
Simple. Yulestar.
Yulestar is not as good an all-round pacer as Holmes D G. But he is a better stayer.
While Holmes D G is explosive, Yulestar is a like a freight train. He takes a while to get going but once he gets a head of steam up he just doesn't stop.
Yulestar will be the fittest he has ever been today, honed by a month of racing and working on real tracks instead of the grass paddocks of his Hawera home.
The differences between the pair are the key to today's race.
If Holmes D G settles handy without working and has one sprint at the leaders, possibly up the passing lane, he should win.
But if the race turns into trench warfare, with multiple lead changes, then Yulestar could get carted into the race as those handy could get pushed back. And Yulestar, let loose at the 800m after an economical trip would be virtually unbeatable.
His driver Tony Shaw knows that and that is why he is happy with a draw that would ruin most horses.
By starting on the outside of the 10m mark Yulestar should miss the early traffic and because of the no push-out rule until the 1000m point is likely to get around the field unimpeded.
Then it will be survival of the fittest.
Of course, the two big guns are not the only hopes among harness racing's first XV.
But they are the two who have the x-factor, the ability to simply outsprint (Holmes D G) or outstay (Yulestar) those who oppose them.
If Bogan Fella finds the front easily he could roll to victory, especially judging by his Kaikoura Cup win. With a cosy trip Mac De Stroyer could also take the step into the big time.
And with a sleepy trip on the markers under-rated Aussie Breeny's Fella could prove the value. Add Zyuganov Leis, Happy Asset and Chloe Hanover to the mix and we have a serious horse race.
They all could win. But there are only two horses in the race, who if things go their way, should win.
They are Holmes D G and Yulestar. And the latter casts a pretty big shadow.
Racing: Time ripe to step out of the shadows
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