Emma Stewart’s decade-long supremacy of two and three-year-old feature races continued unabated on Saturday night when her stable completed a clean sweep of all four Breeders Crown Pacing Finals at Melton.
It was a case of Australasia’s leading stable saving the best till last when a burgeoning star on the horizon, Loucasso, outclassed his rivals in the 2YO Colts & Geldings Final, providing Stewart with five winners on the program.
Earlier in the night, the Stewart-prepared Petracca showed he is back to his brilliant best with a dominant win in the Vale Neville Gath Pace.
Loucasso ($1.10 fav) returned a mile rate of 1:52.2 and his winning margin of 25 metres could have been greater if Mark Pitt had so desired.
Pitt, who has driven a plethora of feature race winners for the Stewart stable in recent years, made a revealing declaration after the race.
“He is very special. He’s probably the best juvenile I’ve driven to date. He’s got speed, he’s got strength and the looks to go with it,” Pitt said.
“I’ve driven a lot of really top-quality horses and Ride High is probably the best I’ve driven, but this bloke isn’t far behind him,” he said.
Loucasso, who won the Protostar slot race at Albion Park in July, will now be aimed at The Eureka next year.
“He might have a little let-up now, but his big aim will be The Eureka,” he said.
The win completed a memorable night for the ownership group Aaron Bain Racing–Summit Bloodstock, who also race Captain Perfect and Beach Diamond.
Captain Perfect ($3) followed up his heat win when he outstayed his rivals in the 3YO Colts & Geldings Final.
Driver Mark Pitt said he was intent on finding the spot outside the leader.
“I wanted to get there before a few of the others and try and control the race,” Pitt said.
“He doesn’t seem to have a lot of high speed, but the stronger you drive him the better he goes,” he said.
Stewart-trained runners filled the first five placings in the 2YO Fillies Final, with outstanding filly Arrhythmia ($1.90 fav) scoring her seventh win from eight starts.
Driver Cam Hart predicts a big future for the daughter of Vincent.
“She gives me a great feel and I just love the racehorse that she is,” Hart said.
“She showed that toughness in the Vicbred Final and tonight she exploded away with that good turn of foot that she has. I think she can make a good Oaks filly,” he said.
Hart completed a driving treble when partnered Beach Diamond ($1.50 fav) to victory in the 3YO Fillies Final after the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere sat parked outside the leader Peace Out.
Last month, Beach Diamond took out the Vicbred Super Series Final.
“She’s been awesome this season,” he said.
“Everything you ask of her, she’s always digging deep and it’s a big thrill tonight to win like that.”
For the record, Stewart has now trained the winners of 39 Breeders Crown Pacing Finals for two, three and four-year-olds.
