Champion Victorian trainer Emma Stewart is piecing together her biggest raid yet on Queensland’s winter riches.
Stewart, who trains in partnership with Clayton Tonkin, said TAB Eureka and Chariots Of Fire winner Bay of Biscay would headline a huge team of pacers of all ages and sexes, along with trotter Susan Is Her Name, for the Inter Dominion and a string of Group 1 support races.
They could have as many as 12 raiders.
“We’re going to take most of them up by road, which is something new for us,” Stewart said. “That’ll be all the older horses. We’ll break the trip up with a stopover somewhere on the way.
“We’ll fly the two-year-olds up for the Protostar. We’ll have two, hopefully even three in that race.”
Cardigan Jem, an eye-catching second in last Saturday’s Nutrien final at Wagga, Staunton (a winner of his only start at Maryborough), and the exciting filly Comeandsee (unbeaten in two starts) are the Protostar contenders.
“Cardigan Jem and Staunton have slots and we’ve got a big opinion of Comeandsee, so we’ll take her to the Ballarat qualifier where the winner gets a Protostar slot,” Stewart said.
Bay Of Biscay, who missed the early racing this year with a lingering hoof abscess, returned to winning form in last Sunday’s Maryborough Cup, beating classy stablemate War Dan Buddy.
“They’ll both go to the Inter Dominion, as will Oliver Dan,” Stewart said. “I’m not sure about Miki To Success, he’s just got some feet issues at the moment and may not go.”
Premier driver James Herbertson, who drove Bay Of Biscay to win at Maryborough, is a chance to keep the drive, depending on the commitments of NSW star Cam Hart.
Hart, who drove Bay Of Biscay to win the TAB Eureka and Chariots Of Fire, also drives Jason Grimson’s champion mare Captains Mistress.
TAB Eureka runner-up Fox Dan will go to the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 4 instead of the Inter Dominion opening round heats on the same night.
Fox Dan and Oliver Dan both are both key runners from gate one and three respectively in Saturday night’s Melton free-for-all.
It adds to an already stunning line-up, including Captains Mistress, Hollywood Strip and boom Kiwi Marketplace.
Excitingly, Stewart declared gifted but injury-plagued trotting mare Susan Is Her Name right on target.
“She’s done a stack of work at home and is ready to trial again now, which will be next week,” she said.
“That’ll give us time to get a lead-up race into her down here before the Inter Dominion.
“It’s balancing act with her given all the injury issues she’s had, but so far so good, which is why we haven’t been in a rush to race her.”
Stewart said she would also have multiple runners in the classics, the Queensland Derby and Oaks.
“The two that went to Wagga last Saturday, Brooklyn Dan and Cardigan Dan, will go to the Derby,” she said.
“We’ve got three set for the Oaks. Arrhythmia has freshened up well since winning the NSW Oaks, and Willows Girl and Pre Eminence are the other two.”
