Sporting the colours of Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the 4-year-old Almanzor gelding Holymanz earned his place in history as the inaugural winner of the $300,000 Bet365 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong.
Settled just off the speed by Michael Dee, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustice-trained gelding was last off the last off the bit in defeating Bermadez (Tavistock) by three-quarters of a length with Don't Doubt Dory (Fiorente) back in third.
It advances the record of Holymanz to four wins and three seconds from 12 starts with earnings of $371,050.
“We drew low, and he (Dee) needed to lean on him a bit, which fired him up,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said.
“Thankfully, the race developed, and he got into an OK spot. To the horse’s credit he was the last one travelling and finished the race off well.
“He is progressive. Henry (Plumtree) is of the opinion he is a Group horse. He had a tumble in the (Australian) Guineas when he was travelling in to it. For him to come back in winning form is fantastic.
“It’s good for Cambridge as we set the horse for this race with very good prizemoney and leads on to a nice option, on Karaka Million night (the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic).
Purchased and raced in partnership with Haras d'Etreham’s Nicolas de Chambure, Holymanz was a $400,000 buy from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Bred by Jamieson Park, Holymanz is a half-brother to the promising Ultimate Pride (Pride Of Dubai who won her most recent starts at Eagle Farm and Doomben in April.
Their talented dam Perfect Offering was a $140,000 purchase for Bruce Perry Bloodstock (Bafnz)/Jamieson Park from the Baystone Farm draft at the 2018 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
A half-sister to Listed winner My Country (Poet’s Voice) from the family of Kotashaan and Hawksmoor, Perfect Offering foaled an Xtravagant (NZ) colt in August and was covered by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Holymanz comes from the first Southern Hemisphere crop of triple Group 1 winner Almanzor (FR) who shuttled to Cambridge Stud where his 2023 fee was set at $50,000.
