Stewart sweeps G1 pacing ‘Crowns’ at Melton

Emerging juvenile Timmy Rictor (Modern Art) notched up the first Group 1 of his career in the Breeders Crown (2YO Colts & Geldings) Final at Melton.

And it probably won’t be his last.

Sent out a $1.70 favorite, Timmy Rictor was able to wrest the lead off stable mate Stormryder after the pole marker Nathan Street galloped its way out of contention when the mobile released the field.

David Moran loosened his grip on the reins behind Timmy Rictor in a 27.6 back straight quarter and with a further release on the home turn the son of Modern Art exploded away from his rivals to score by six metres from stable mate Some American in a mile rate of 1:55.8.

“He’s progressed into a very nice little horse now,” Moran said.

“He’s got all the attributes of a nice horse, he’s got the gate speed, he’s good gaited and covers the ground so it’s terrific

Timmy Rictor made a clean sweep of his Breeders Cup campaign taking out his heat, semi final and final and Moran believes the colt is progressing in a hurry.

“Horses like Stormryder have done such a great job early but sometimes the others catch up and thankfully for us he’s caught up and turned into a really nice two-year-old,” he said.

Moran conceded Timmy Rictor’s task was made easier after Nathan Street galloped at the start.

“It’s not very often in these races you get an easy lead but I thought from barrier one Nathan Street could put a bobble in and as it worked out he did and it aided us a bit more,” he said.

TIMMY RICTOR REPLAY

Unbeaten filly Very Pretty provided the Emma Stewart stable with a clean sweep of the Breeders Crown 2YO series when she led all the way in the 2YO Fillies Final.

Very Pretty (American Ideal) was joined by her stablemate and main danger Draw A Dream with a lap to travel however Very Pretty put paid to Draw A Dream with 400 metres to travel and then staved off a challenge from NSW filly Lux Aeterna in the home straight.

Very Pretty, who now boasts a race record of five wins from as many starts, was forced to drag a flat tyre down the home straight making the win even more meritorious.

VERY PRETTY REPLAY

Major Delight (Bettor’s Delight) capped off a busy season when she outstayed her rivals after sitting parked outside her stable mate Joyful.

The daughter of Bettors Delight forged to the lead approaching the home turn and comfortably accounted for her stable mates Joyful and Sweet Bella giving the Stewart stable the race trifecta.

“She ticks all the boxes this one, you can’t praise her any more than what she already has” Pitt said.

“She can be very tricky and unpredictable the way she races but she raced super tonight and when it was time to go she meant business,” he said.

Pitt said Major Delight has earned a stint in the spelling paddock.

“She’s been in everything and is always thereabouts and she’s earned a well-deserved rest,” he said.

“And the better horses she races then the better she will race and I can’t wait to bring on next season with her.”

MAJOR DELIGHT REPLAY

The win provided Stewart with her 127^th Group 1 success as a trainer.

Earlier in the night the Stewart trained colt Perfect Class (Captaintreacherous) broke through for a well-deserved win in a Breeders Crown Final when he took out the 3YO Colts & Geldings Final at Melton.

The pre-race scenario was turned upside down when the $1.65 favorite Oliver Dan galloped shortly after the start and following a series of shuffles Perfect Class became the fourth leader inside the first 400 metres of the race.

Prefect Class finished runner up in last year’s Breeders Crown (2YO Colts & Geldings) Final.

“He’s got a few tricks walking around but once he’s going in the run he’s fine,” said driver Luke McCarthy who notched up his 78^th Group 1 win.

McCarthy said the race panned out well after Oliver Dan galloped his way out of contention.

“When Pitty’s one made a mistake early it looked his race to lose,” he said.

“There was a little bit of speed early so I kept my nose clean and let the dust settle and I was a couple of lengths off Pitty and could see what was going on, and once he found the front he was going to be hard to beat.”

PERFECT CLASS REPLAY

McCarthy predicts a bright future for the son of Captaintreacherous.

“Tonight was an easy run for him but he looks like a Chariots Of Fire horse going forward,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink