Relentless pressure and a dashing drive has delivered Victoria’s premier stable the state’s greatest trophy – the Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup.
Trainer Emma Stewart and partner Clayton Tonkin captured one of the few crowns to have escaped their team’s grasp at Melton tonight when Honolua Bay and reinsman David Moran swooped late to win the nation’s unofficial heavyweight championship.
“It’s amazing to be honest,” Tonkin said. “It’s one of those things, you just want to stand up and be counted on a night like this, and we’ve had an awesome night and it’s been special.”
An enthralled Melton crowd was treated to a titanic battle from start to finish, with reinsman Jack Callaghan defiant on Spirit Of St Louis amid relentless challenges.
He first saw off Mach Dan and then favourite Copy That as they set down a 1 min 20.43 secs lead time, some five seconds quicker than the 2022 edition.
While more pressure was poured on, with Rock And Roll Doo and Old Town Road advancing, favourite Copy That was sensationally eased out of the race after reportedly choking down.
Meanwhile, Honolua Bay lay in wait five back in the running line and got an armchair ride up on the three-wide train behind Mach Dan.
When those inside tired, Moran capitalised, cutting the final corner to the sprint lane. It would be a decisive move.
Spirit Of St Louis’ outstanding fight finally faded in the final stages as Honolua Bay swept clear on his inside, winning by five metres from I Cast No Shadow and Old Town Road.
“The way it all worked out, it panned out perfect,” said Moran, who also won the race in 2021 with his champion Lochinvar Art. “These races mean the world to you as a trainer and driver. They are very, very special.
“It’s a big credit to Emma and Clayton, Sam (Stewart), (owners) Bill and Anne (Anderson) – very, very privileged to them being loyal and continuing to put me on.”
The result also meant the world to Bill Anderson, with Lauriston Bloodstock not only owning but breeding the six-year-old.
“He’s had his foot on the till the last six months and he’s such a trier, he deserves this,” Anderson said. “Clayton was extremely confident, he wanted him to have a quiet run and slot in and they followed the instructions.”
Clayton gave much of the credit to Emma Stewart’s brother, Sam, who he said “has done all the work with him and he’s his biggest support - we owe a lot to him”.
“When the horse first came (to the stable) he was probably pretty hot and didn’t stay real good,” Tonkin said. “Now he finishes a race off like that, it’s unbelievable.”
The result built on the Stewart and Tonkin stable’s brilliant night, which included Amore Vita’s win in the Alabar Ladyship Cup and Captain Ravishing’s demolition job in the Cogs Services 4YO Bonanza.
The latter only enhanced his huge reputation with a stunning win, blowing apart the $100,000 feature with a 26.2 secs third quarter to win by 20 metres and set his sights on Sydney’s forthcoming features.