Susan Is Her Name set for return to racing

For all the big races Emma Stewart is chasing this weekend, she will take most interest in a ho-hum trotting race at Melton on Saturday night.

That’s because her untapped and injury-plagued trotter Susan Is Her Name will launch another comeback.

The five-year-old mare has managed just 13 starts (for seven wins and five placings) across three years and hasn’t started since a third at Melton back on September 14, last year.

“Clayton (Tonkin, co-trainer) and I have got such a big opinion of her, but she’s high maintenance and we just hope she will stay sound long enough to show what she’s capable of,” Stewart said.

“She’s shown glimpses, but she’s always had an issue with a hind sesamoid (bone) and takes a lot of looking after.

“We’re really happy with where she’s at, but she’s not the sort of mare you make plans with. She’ll show us if she’s ready for big races if she stays sound. She’s certainly got the ability.”

Susan Is Her Name’s biggest win came in the Group 1 Breeders Crown 2YO Fillies’ final on November 19, 2022.

She looks superbly graded despite a back row draw (gate 10) on Saturday night and Kerryn Manning will take the drive.

Stewart’s focus will be split between Melton and the stellar Bathurst Gold Crown meeting on Saturday night.

Stewart and Tonkin have key runners in three of the four features.

“Gee we’ve copped it with barrier draws. Literally none of ours have drawn well,” Stewart said.

“We’ve got some lovely young horses up there, but there’s so much talent and they’re running such fast times, it’s hard to see I’m confident with any from our draws.”

Their Bathurst assault starts with impressive heat winners Ripples (gate eight) and Willows Girl (12) in the $150,000 Group 1 Gold Tiara final for two-year-old fillies.

“We really like both fillies. Ripples will be the better of them in time, she’s got the makings of an Oaks filly, but Willows Girl is the more get-up-and-go youngster,” Stewart said.

Willows Girl is $4.40 and Ripples $5 behind Discernment ($3.20) and Sparkling Sea ($3.80) in a strong Tiara final.

Despite winning last year’s Gold Crown 2YO final and being unbeaten in three Bathurst runs, Fox Dan is an $18 chance in a remarkably strong $100,000 Group 2 Gold Chalice final for three-year-old colts and geldings.

“What a race that one is,” Stewart said. “We needed a draw and certainly didn’t get it being right out in seven. He’s got his work cut out,” Stewart said.

The explosive Loucasso, unbeaten in two starts, looks Stewart and Tonkin’s strongest chance on the night despite drawing inside the back row (gate nine) in the $150,000 Group 1 Gold Crown final.

“He’s so fast, but the draw means he’ll need some luck,” Stewart said. “If Rewatch holds the lead from (gate) one and we can trail him, it would be great, but if he takes a sit and puts us three back on the inside, things can get tricky,” Stewart said.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria