The 2015 champion beat 2016 Australian champion Sam Masters and 2017 NSW runner-up Josh Pickering in a quality final also featuring Cowra’s Todd Kurtz.

It was an inauspicious start to the night for Holder who finished fourth in the opening round behind Newcastle’s Masters, Kurtz and Australian junior champion Matthew Gilmore.

However, he didn’t put a foot wrong from there are won his next four heats to qualify second with 12 points behind Masters who finished with 14 from his four heat wins and a second.

Todd Kurtz was the third direct qualified into the A-final.

Pickering made his made through the B-final which also featured Cessnock’s Josh Macdonald.

Racing switches to Kurri Kurri this Saturday for the Tasmanian Solo Championship.