Impressive two-year-old trotter looks to extend winning streak

Emmwallen (Majestic Son) will be looking to continue his winning ways when he lines up in the Aldebaran Park Tatlow Stakes for two-year-old harness racing trotters at Melton this evening.

Trainer-driver Courtney Slater has been in the sulky for the colt’s first two career starts, which have resulted in strong wins over 2180m.

Emmwallen’s last victory came on October 5 at Kilmore when he fought hard to chase down the Brent Lilley-trained Aldebaran Campbell in the closing stages.

Slater and husband Mark Driscoll are delighted with their horse’s stellar start to his career.

“We are really happy with him at this point,” Slater said.

“He has had his two starts, obviously it’s all new to him. We are really happy with him leading into tonight.”

The two-year-old bay squaregaiter still has a lot to learn and Slater isn’t looking too far ahead.

“His two wins have been quite good, and he is a baby trotter and things can happen – we feel quite confident going into tonight’s race,” she said.

“I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the best of him yet, but that will come.”

Tonight will be the first time Emmwallen steps out at Melton Entertainment Park and the Beeac trainer has praised her horse’s mentality leading into races.

“He’s sort of a free-flowing horse, you know he looks highly strung but he’s not highly strung at all,” she said.

“He’s one of those horses that likes to get up and about and he has got pretty good manners when it comes to mobiles and sitting in the field. We are really happy in that respect.”

The time-honoured Redwood Classic at Maryborough on November 26 shapes as the next assignment after this evening, but Slater isn’t getting too far ahead of herself.

“We just have to listen to the horse, and Mark and I discuss things. Mark has done a terrific job with this guy,” Slater said.

“We will just take things step-by-step. You know there’s Redwood and Breeders Crown, so we will take it step-by-step.”

The Tatlow Stakes is one of the highlights on tonight’s metropolitan card from Melton, along with Queen Elida’s appearance in the Hygain Maori Miss Trotters Free For All.

The first race from MEP is scheduled from 6.32pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria