Manning adds to Eureka girl-power

TRAILBLAZING harness racing driver Kerryn Manning had some quick and very serious thinking to do Saturday.

Manning got a phone call saying the exciting Emma Stewart-trained four-year-old High Above (Captaintreacherous) had snared a start in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka and asked if she would like to drive him.

High Above posted his fifth win from just nine starts at Melton last Friday night. Manning has driven him four times for as many wins, including the past two.

Slot holders Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock were so impressed with High Above’s latest win, they opted to use their slot on him rather than more seasoned and decorated stablemate Perfect Class.

“Normally it would be an immediate yes,” Manning said. “But the Vicbred semi-finals are on at Melton on the same night and I’ll have a few runners (as a trainer) in those.

“After a bit of thought and lots of help from (husband) Grant (Campbell), who will hold down the fort for me at home, I’m going to Menangle.

“It’s such a massive opportunity and I’d be crazy not to go and be part of it.

“I’m also stoked to be able to keep the drive on him (High Above), he’s such a talent.”

Manning, 48, is one Australia’s most accomplished drivers with almost 4300 wins and 39 at Group 1 level, and rewrote just about every record by a female driver.

Manning is one of two female drivers in the TAB Eureka. The other is 26-year-old Ashleigh Delosa, who will take reins on Major Delight. She’s driven 106 winners and is yet to salute at Group 1 level.

The female influence runs deeper in the training ranks with half the field.

Emma Stewart has a record three runners with High Above, Major Delight and Bay Of Biscay, while Jess Tubbs trains and Fighter Command and Shannon Price puts the polish on Sure Thing Captain.

This will be Tubbs’ first TAB Eureka runner, while Price had Speak The Truth run a terrific fifth in last year’s race.

Of course, Stewart won last year’s inaugural TAB Eureka with four-year-old mare Encipher.