Milestone achieved

LEITHFIELD Beach horseman Robbie Holmes extended his family’s legacy in harness racing by winning his 500th race as a trainer yesterday.

Holmes achieved the mark when he drove Princess Fulham to victory in his stable colours at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru.

Earlier in the day, he recorded win No 99 with a trotter, Tres Magnifique.

Holmes has trained 10 group race winners including champion mare Kiwi Ingenuity. He rated her as the best he had trained.

‘‘For sure, she was one out of the box, to be honest, and hopefully we will see another one like her in the barn.’’

Kiwi Ingenuity won the New Zealand Oaks, New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes, the Queen Of Hearts and at the Harness Jewels, where she set the allcomers New Zealand mile record at Ashburton in

2009, all at group 1 level.

Holmes also rated winning the Pelorus Fouryearold Classic at Blenheim highly.

‘‘When she beat the colts at Blenheim, that was probably one of the most satisfying wins because that stamped her mark that she was going to go places.’’

Holmes’s first group 1 win was as trainer and driver of Romper Stomper in the 2007 New Zealand Trotting FreeForAll.

His first training victory came when Albion Park won a maiden trot at Gore in 1998.

Four generations of the family have made their marks in the code. Robbie’s late father, Colin, had success as a trainer, as did his uncle, Kevin, a World

Drivers Championship winner.

Robbie’s grandfather, Allan, and greatuncle, Maurice, were New Zealand Cup winners.

Holmes is the greatgrandson of Interdominon Pacing Final and New Zealand Cupwinning driver Free Holmes. — NZ Harness News