Kiwi owned filly having her first run for new trainers

Champion harness racing trainer Emma Stewart admits to still being on a learning curve with high-class former Kiwi filly Amore Vita (Art Major).

Stewart and partner Clayton Tonkin were entrusted with training Amore Vita when Nathan Purdon returned to NZ.

At her best, Amore Vita is as good as any filly in Australia, but she has been down a shade on her best form in recent months.

“She hasn’t been here long, but we really like her,” Stewart said. “Nathan said she’s been getting a bit too keen in her races and not doing herself any favours, so we’ve been concentrating on trying to get her to relax a bit.”

Amore Vita has her first run for Stewart and Tonkin in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Bendigo tomorrow (Friday) night.

“She won’t be at her top for this run,” Stewart warned. “We’re still learning about her and trying a few things, but you can tell the talent is there.

“It’s actually turned out well with the draw. She’s inside the back row (eight), but follows out the leader (Steno), so should get a great run behind her.

“It’s a starting point for her with us. I’m sure she’ll keep getting better.”

Stewart and Tonkin have a staggering 14 runners across the four heats of the Crown 3YO Fillies’ series.

Their headline act is Victoria Oaks winner Encipher.

“The signs are Amore Vita is right up there with her on talent if we can get her back to her best,” Stewart said.

Encipher should be too classy despite gate seven in her heat. She will have a different driver with Kate Gath away to run the New York Marathon, while Mark Pitt will take the reins.

The Kiwi flavour extends to the strongest 3YO colts and geldings heat of the Crown series at Bendigo.

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Major Perry (Bettor’s Delight) has the pole, but it’s a bizarrely strong heat.

Somehow, the three big guns of the series have drawn the same heat.

Ripp (Bettor’s Delight) will start from gate two with Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) in barrier three.

Stewart said Captain Ravishing had come through his first defeat for the stable – a fifth in the Victoria Derby – in good fashion.

“He’s raring to go, but you don’t expect to have such a strong heat. I just don’t get why they want the three best horses clashing in a heat,” Stewart said.

Ripp has explosive gate speed and should lead, but trainer Bernie Hewitt said he wasn’t interested in fireworks in a heat.

“We won’t get into a war. If we find the front, we’ll be happy to sit on Captain Ravishing,” he said.

“We’ve got him right back to his best and I think he’s shown he is as good as any of them, so we’re looking forward to the rest of the series.

“We won’t be afraid to take it right up to Captain Ravishing in the final.”

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by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing New Zealand