Emma Stewart scoops the Australian Pacing Gold Finals

As expected leading Victorian harness racing trainer Emma Stewart won both $150,000 Australian Pacing Gold Finals for the respective colts and geldings and fillies divisions with Loucasso (Sweet Lou) and Degarmea Teale (Captain Crunch) at Melton on Saturday night.

Both pacers are raced by Summit Bloodstock who have provided for a large number of syndicated owners with each pacer.

Flashy colt Loucasso looked every inch a star in the making when he led all the way for a comprehensive win in the colts and geldings division.

Driver Mark Pitt easily found the lead and backers of the prohibitive shorts on favourite had few worries as Loucasso ambled along in front. Sols Me Name who had won at Cranbourne two starts back had a good trail but once Pitt released the brakes Loucasso sprinted clear to defeat Sols Me Name by fifteen metres with Eyeneedthat a close third.

LOUCASSO MAY 24 REPLAY

Driver Mark Pitt was full of praise for Loucasso.

“He’s got serious speed this fella. When you keep flicking him up he just keeps finding gears.”

“He was just idling up the straight. I’m sure if I’d clicked him right up he would have run some serious time. He’s got a very bright future.”

“I just let him come out on his own, and I didn’t ask him at all. It’s always a good sign.”

“If you had to ask him to come off the gate, he’d get off it really good.”

“I hope everything stays well with him and we see him in some very nice races later on in the season.”

Loucasso’s only defeat was in the Gold Crown Final at Bathurst in March and he is now being seriously considered for Queensland’s premier two year old event the $500,000 Protostar at Albion Park on 19 July.

By contrast supporters of Degarmea Teale had a few anxious moments. The well supported Ride The Highs found the front but surrendered to Degarmea Teale. Jackie Barker appeared to have a good hold of Degarmea Teale but she could not shake off her opponents on turning for home.

DEGARMEA TEALE MAY 24 REPLAY

In fact she looked in real danger when Ride The Highs peeled from behind and looked as if she might snatch an upset victory. But Degarmea Teale fought back in the concluding stages to win by half a neck from Ride The Highs with A lot Like Jeannie a distant third. It’s obvious though that Degarmea Teale will improve with racing.

Stewart and Summit Bloodstock had a big night when in the opening event their very promising mare Kiss (Always B Miki)  resuming after six months was most impressive beating a solid field. Then in the next event Meteor Moth (American Ideal) also trained by Stewart scored in a heart stopping finish with five horses virtually together across the track.

Stewart is looking to take a strong team for the forthcoming Queensland carnival and is bound to make her presence felt.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink