04 May 2020 | Paul Courts
MEMORIES of a horrific night were pushed into the background as a new outlook on the feature was created tonight.
Two years ago Lance Holberton had Regal Scribe in the Golden Nursery and watched in horror as the freshman crashed to the ground tipping his son, Josh, out of the sulky.
While Regal Scribe was unscathed, Josh suffered a broken sternum and bleeding on the brain, with the race fall ending his driving career.
“It was a terrible night,” Holberton said. “Josh copped a broken sternum, had bleeding on the brain and couldn’t work for 12 months.
“He nearly lost his life and everything he worked for because of that accident and has never driven again.”
Fast forward to Saturday evening and Holberton not only held the Golden Nursery trophy aloft thanks for exciting filly Dancing Finn, but Regal Scribe also continued his impressive form.
Driven by Wayne Hill, Dancing Finn led throughout from the pole to score by a metre-and-a-half from Artillery, with Thiswaytothebeach nine metres away third.
Rating 1:59.8 over 1800 metres, the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance stretched her record to five wins and a third from seven starts for earnings of $35,375.
“That was a gutsy win,” Holberton said. “I’m very proud of her.
“She is a very special filly and has done a top job.
“She will go to a paddock to enjoy some nice green grass now as she’s earned a break.
“It’s going to be very hard to slot her into the race when she comes back as she’s won five races, but I’ll bring her back into work to get ready for the Southern Cross when that is rescheduled.”
From broodmare gem Anna Finn, Dancing Finn is a half-sister to Regal Scribe, which also led throughout from the pole with Mark Billinger in the cart.
Rating 1:58 over 1800 metres, the four-year-old accounted for Pocket Thedeal and Dont Tell William.
A son of Sportswriter, Regal Scribe completed a hat-trick to take his record to eight wins and three thirds from 17 starts.
“He is great form, but is also getting up in points quickly which is going to make it hard,” Holberton said. “I’ll just have to place him the best I can and see how he goes.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
