Very Pretty makes it eight from eight

The all-conquering Victorian combination of Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin landed winners at Melton and Menangle tonight (May 4) with superstar three-year-old harness racing filly Very Pretty (American Ideal) leading the way with her second Gr 1 success.

Working to the lead in the $200,000 John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks, the beautifully striding pacer was well rated by regular stable driver Mark Pitt to keep her unbeaten record intact, now having eight from eight.

After early steady quarters of 31 and 30.2 seconds, the tempo then slipped into another gear with 27.4 and 25.7 on the way home of the 2400m trip.

To watch the race replay, click here.

The win adds to the filly’s Gr 1 success in last season’s Breeders Crown series at Melton.

Earlier in the night, popular Great Western reinswoman Kerryn Manning set the ball rolling for the Ballarat stable with an all-the-way victory at Melton with Perfect In Pink (American Ideal) in the Alabar VicBred Mares Pace.

Then 50 minutes later, gun Sydney driver Cam Hart handled Major Delight (Bettors Delight) at Menangle to win nicely in the Strangelove Ladyship Pace.

Pitt said that when he found the front early with Very Pretty, and dictated the race, it was going to be hard for his rivals to beat her.

“The 31 sec quarter set it up for us. I think the others obviously had a lot of respect for her as there should be,” he said.

“It was probably mission impossible to beat her then. There’s been a lot of talk about the Eureka, but I’m unsure what the future plans are.”

Wherever connections decide to aim with Very Pretty, she’s sure to stamp her authority on the three-year-old filly features without too much fuss.

The Stewart/Tonkin camp had to settle for placings with their other Menangle runners. Ladies In Red, finished runner-up in the Gr 1 Queen Elizabeth Mile to Aardies Express (Jack Trainor), and Miss Disturbia was third in the Gr 3 NSW Pink Bonnet.

The $50,000 Bonnet saw an impressive win to Namaka (Bettors Delight) for trainer Kevin Pizzuto and driver Josh Gallagher.

The bay filly, having only her second race start, showed there’s exciting times ahead.

To watch the race video replay, click here.

“That’s two wins now, but we’ve nowhere near seen the best of her yet. I think there’s a few big races for her later in the year,” Gallagher said.

“Tonight was the first time she’d led in a race, and she got a little side-tracked. But we were extremely happy with her.

“I’ve formed a great relationship with Kevin. I’m probably not doing quite as good as Todd McCarthy, but I’m happy to be following in his footsteps.”

An excited Pizzuto described Namaka as “definitely a nice filly who was on the way up.”

“I had her mother. I’d like pass on a big thanks to her owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover, who enjoy the sport.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink