Stewart targets Mildura with a team of five

The powerful Emma Stewart harness racing stable of Cardigan, near Ballarat, will make a rare visit to the far north-west corner of Victoria today (Aug 16).

And if pre-post betting prices at the Mildura meeting are any indication, they are in for a huge day.

Although the Stewart team is a regular visitor to Mildura in April for the annual Mildura Pacing Cup Carnival, it’s been almost two years since the stable sent runners to a standard Mildura meeting for two winners and a second in September 2022.

Stable foreman Allan McDonough said it was all about trying to place horses for their connections and give them the best possible chance.

“The programming around the national rating system can be a bit testing, but up there it looked very suitable for some of our horses to earn for the owners – and that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

“We are trying to cut back in numbers and concentrate more on quality rather than quantity.”

McDonough said he hadn’t made the five-hour trip himself to compete at a Mildura meeting for about six or seven years, but he had sent his own horses up with others.

“Connor Clarke took Kusanova up there about two years ago, and Sam Barker was there with Blitzern three months ago – and they both got the money,” he said.

“I get the Mildura trip this time because the main stable driver Mark Pitt has drives at the Melton meeting (tonight).

“I’m looking forward to driving on the tight track (810 metres). I grew up in Mt Gambier and competed on that small track. I lived in Western Australia for a while too and I drove at Collie and Bridgetown which are tight.”

McDonough will handle Prioritise (9) in the opening event for the Stewart barn; followed by Percession (10) race four; Tough Shaz (9) race six; Stitched Up Dan (8) race seven; and Shanlou (10) race eight. He has also been booked to drive Ultimate Vinnie (7) in race 11 for trainer Sam Barker.

“They are all going nicely at home so providing we can overcome some tricky back row draws, we shouldn’t be too far away. I really like Stitched Up Dan who has been unbeaten in two starts,” he said.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink