Kiwi-owned filly moves to champion stable

Star Kiwi-owned harness racing filly Amore Vita (Art Major) has a new home.

Champion trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin now have the three-year-old as she prepares for the rich Breeders Crown and Vicbred series’.

The move came with regular trainer Nathan Purdon returning to NZ.

Amore Vita could have returned for races like the NZ Oaks, but instead connections have opted to chase Australian riches for the rest of this year.

Purdon trained her in 18 starts for 10 wins, three seconds and two thirds. The biggest win came in last year’s Group 1 Vicbred 2YO Fillies’ final.

“She’s been here about a week and has settled in well,” Stewart said.

Amore Vita has been winless in her past five runs and down a shade on very best form.

Stewart and Tonkin have no peers as far as either resurrecting horses or turning them around when they join their huge and dominant Ballarat barn.

The heats of the Breeders Crown are at Bendigo on Friday week ahead of semi finals and then a $200,000 final at Melton on November 19.

In other stable news, Stewart and Tonkin will be spread across two major meetings next Saturday night.

Stewart confirmed their brilliant Victoria Cup runner-up Honolua Bay (Somebeachsomewhere) will head to Sydney for the $100,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile.

He will need a new driver with David Moran committed to the amazing Ladies In Red at Melton in the $100,000 Group 1 Queen of the Pacific.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand