A Very good filly looking to keep Pretty record intact

As the curtain starts to draw on the racetrack career of Ladies In Red, the powerful Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin training operation will be looking to replace – if that’s even possible – the country’s standout mare.

And while Major Delight is trending in the right direction with 18 wins from her 23 career starts, it might be an undefeated stablemate that has the potential to reach even greater heights.

A striking daughter of American Ideal named Very Pretty is emerging as the next megastar from the all-conquering Cardigan barn, with the three-year-old filly unbeaten from eight outings ahead of her return on Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park.

Tonkin is upbeat about the progression of Very Pretty, who was last seen at the races when winning the Group 1 NSW Oaks at Menangle in May.

“She’s an out and out star,” Tonkin said. “She’s got everything and I just love her. I just think she’s something special.

“Emma has been working her a fair bit this time in and she’s been working with Major Delight. Not very many three-year-old fillies would be able to go with those good four-year-old (mares) and she handles her with ease.

“Not that she’s the best track worker, but it just shows you the class of her. To be able to handle a mare like that, it’s pretty special.”

Ladies In Red won her first nine starts before defeat in the Vicbred final as a two-year-old in December 2020 and has since built a stunning record of 28 victories from 36 starts for prizemoney up over $1million.

There is some thought that she could be retired for the breeding barn should she prevail in Saturday night’s Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park in Queensland.

“If she happened to win, I’d love to see her go out on a winning note,” Tonkin said this week.

“I hate comparing them because they’re great horses in their own right. They’re totally different horses – one’s big and really fast and a real athlete, where the other one is small but tries real hard and is great gaited.

“It’s hard to compare but I think at the end of their careers they’re going to have pretty successful resumes.”

Very Pretty will bring some real excitement to Saturday night’s final event – the Logical Staffing Solutions Pace – where she has drawn barrier 10 in a field of 11.

“I know barrier draws can hurt you down there, but you’ve seen when she trialed against The Lost Storm and Perfect Class the other night, she went straight by them just on the bridle. It just shows you how special she is,” Tonkin said.