Emma Stewart’s clean sweep of Nutrien heats at Melton

The nation’s leading trainer of youngsters Emma Stewart made a clean sweep of the Nutrien series heats for two and three years winning all seven races at Melton on Friday afternoon in a remarkable training feat.

In the first division of the Nutrien Equine Classic for three year old colts and geldings went to Cigano (Poster Boy) who was taken straight to the front by Greg Sugars. His main danger It’s Confidential coming off the back of a desperately unlucky run in the Gold Crown at Bathurst was caught outside the leader.

Cigano’s stablemate Apollostorm had the run of the race behind the leader. However the key to the race was that Greg Sugars was left unchallenged to dictate his own terms and in running his last two quarters in 28.4 and 26.2 seconds simply had too much dash for his rivals.

Apollostorm finished well to run Cigano to a neck with It’s Confidential back in third placing nine metres away.

Having his debut Knight Dan Fury (Fear The Dragon) raced a greenly early on in the first heat of two year old colts and geldings. Stablemate Treacherous Dan worked to the lead before his driver Cameron Hart allowed to take a trail. From there on Mark Pitt on Knight Dan Fury simply allowed his charge to stroll along and he cruised away in the home straight to comfortably beat Treacherous Dan and Romeo.

The Highland Reel (Poster Boy) was made to work before he overcome his rivals in the second heat for three year old colts and geldings.

REPLAY APR 4 NUTRIEN 2YO C&G HEAT

Although he showed his customary early speed, he was taken on by Golden Mile whose driver Jason Lee was determined to cross over. However no sooner had he done so Lee allowed The Highland Reel to go back to the lead and elected to take a trail.

This left The Highland Reel’s stablemate Storms Collide facing the breeze. The Highland Reel stepped up the pace in his third quarter of 27,6 seconds….. and although Storms Collide stuck to his guns he could not make up ground and was one and a half metres in second with New Shuffle third.

Another first starter Cardigan Dan (Downbytheseaside) was a hot favourite in the second division of the two year old colts and geldings. This time ace reinsman Cameron Hart was aboard and he allowed Cardigan Dan to run along and prove too strong for stablemate Letsstartinheaven with You Gotta Believe a distant third.

Hart was suitably impressed after the event.

“That was awesome. He felt really good. He was bomb proof.”

Hart made it a double when Beach Diamond (Somebeachsomewhere) gave another copybook front running display in winning the second division of the two year old fillies.  a winner at her only previous appearance in Hobart, Beach Diamond was made to do some work when Galaxy Lass offered some spirited opposition.

However Beach Diamond after working to the lead continued to run along and at the finish had twelve metres to spare over We Dealin Diamonds and Iliana in third position.

Stewart’s sixth winner came the way of Iveseenheavenslight (Bettors Delight) who won the second heat for three year old fillies. This time she was handled by Jackie Barker who strode to the front after stable mate I’ll Be Gone elected to take a trail. Iveseenheavenslight was always travelling within herself and she had no trouble holding off I’ll Be Gone and Harley Lane who filled the minor placings.

Stewart made it seven out of seven when first starter Frolicnearthesea (Downbytheseaside) scored a most impressive win in the second heat of the two year old fillies. Frolicnearthesea was unfancied as her stable mate Willow’s Girl was sent out raging favourite.

And when Willow’s Girl easily held the lead for driver Cameron Hart it looked a matter of how far.

Frolicnearthesea was forced to race outside the leader with another first starter Delizioso having the trail behind the leader. Frolicnearthesea moved up to tackle Willow’s Girl but she jumped a shadow in the back straight. Driver Mark Pitt balanced her up and she finished too strongly for Delizioso who finished along the sprint lane with Willow’s Girl in third place.

The win gave Mark Pitt a winning treble.

The finals of the Nutrien Series will be staged at Melton next Friday night with the two year old finals worth $200,000 and the three year olds will be running for $125,000.  Although final fields have yet to be decided it would seem that the Emma Stewart stable will take a power of beating in all of the finals.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink