Art Major colt responds to 100th Group 1 call

Harness racing is a sport of pressure especially when you have the three favourites in a Group 1.

That was the scenario for Victorian horsewoman Emma Stewart at Menangle on Saturday night (Aug. 27) heading into the $175,000 Nutrien Equine Final for the two-year-old boys.

However, on top of this Stewart had the added pressure of chasing her 100th Group 1 victory too.

And she achieved it when her Art Major colt First Responder won the inaugural feature.

“It is special,” said Stewart.

“It’s one of those things you never think is going to happen, so you didn’t want to have too high expectations tonight having the three favourites, but they got the job done so it was really good.

“He’s a really nice horse that’s well bred and bred to be a good horse.”

After a brave effort in his qualifier when forced to race outside the leader in a record last sectional of 25.3 seconds, First Responder had things a bit easier for this task.

Drawing barrier two, reinsman Mark Pitt was able to position the colt behind the leader, stablemate Major Celebrity.

The first two quarters of the 2300m test were clocked in 31 and 30.4 seconds as the tempo quickened with the final two splits run in 28.7 and 26.7.

Desperate for a run, First Responder burst through along the pegs to score effortlessly by more than four metres in a mile rate of 1:57.7.

Sweet Lou colt Dangerous flashed home for second while Major Celebrity finished third.

FIRST RESPONDER REPLAY

First Responder is raced by a large syndicate of owners and was bred by Lauriston Bloodstock.

He is the ninth foal out of the mare Smyrna Duruisseau, making him a full-brother to Follow The Stars.

For complete race results, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink