Emma primed for another night of Vicbred superiority

It will be a big surprise if Emma Stewart doesn’t at least match her own harness racing record and win five of six Group 1 Vicbred pacing finals at Melton on Saturday night.

After the barriers were drawn today, Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin will stifle betting in all pacing finals except that for four-year-old entires and geldings where they have just the one
runner, Khafaji.

He has claims, but will need luck from inside the back row (gate eight).

Their greatest dominance comes with a staggering eight of the 12 starters in the four-year-old mares’ final where Amore Vita’s (Art Major) already tight grip on favouritism became a stranglehold after she snared gate three.

She is aiming to become just the second female pacer to complete a clean sweep of the Vicbred series, having already won the finals as a two and three-year-old.

It’s hard to see any stablemates turning the tables on her, let alone the four runners from other barns.

Stewart and Tonkin also have seven of the 12 starters in the two-year-old colts and geldings’ final where the barrier draw has been decisive again. Slick semi-final winner Stormryder (Captaintreacherous), who boasts five wins and a second from just six starts, should find the front and take a power of beating from gate four.

Key rivals Bay Of Biscay and Kingman face daunting tasks trying to upset Stormryder from barriers 11 and 13 respectively.

Sweet Bella (Sweet Lou) has the draw (gate three) to stretch her unbeaten record to eight wins in the three-year-old fillies’ final, but the classy Joyful was stunning winning the other semi-final and cannot be underestimated despite gate 11.

The omen bet of the night, Petracca, named after Melbourne AFL superstar Christian Petracca, toyed with his rivals on semi-final night and is drawn to repeat the dose from the pole in the final.

Stablemate Techys Watching is drawn to trail Petracca everywhere and looms as the danger along the sprint lane.

Despite having three runners, plus the emergency, in the two-year-old fillies’ final, Stewart and Tonkin should also win that with one of their semi-final winners Draw A Dream (gate six) or Renewal (three).

Although Stewart and Tonkin don’t train many trotters, they do have two Vicbred trotting finalists on Saturday night.

Susan Is Her Name’s heat run was mind blowing after making an early mistake and finishing second. If she’s on her best behaviour, she looms as the biggest danger to hot favourite Rockinwithattitude (gate three).

They also have consistent Royal Dan (gate five) in the four-year-old trotting final for entires and geldings, but he would need to improve to beat the likes of Chris Svanansio’s exciting pair Aroha Koe (gate three) and Arcee Phoenix (12).

Svanosio also has two runners in the four-year-old trotting mares’ final where Lady Adelia will be one of the hardest to beat.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Victoria