Lamborghini or Harley? It’s a question for punters, but champion trainer Emma Stewart needn’t pick — both are in her stables near Ballarat.
Stewart dominates tonight’s Woodlands Stud two-year-old pacing $290,000 colts and geldings Breeders Crown final, which presents as a crowning glory in a history-making season for a trainer
who appears destined to eclipse Queensland legend Bill Dixon’s all-time Australian record of 299 wins in a season.
Her stable boasts clear favourites in Centenario, named after the $2 million Lamborghini, and Hurricane Harley, as well as Hardhitter, Fourbigmen, Brevity and first emergency Nostra Ideal.
“They haven’t surprised us, really, because they’re all wellbred stock, they’ve all had a good grounding and we’ve liked them ever since they’ve come along,” Stewart said.
“They’ve been easy to do anything with the whole way through — we’ve been lucky with the crop this year.”
Punters believe Centenario — from gate four — is the horse to beat, with TAB posting him at $1.75 fav, because he drew inside Hurricane Harley ($2.20 from gate five).
Last time the Stewart stars met, Centenario won the Vicbred Super Series final as an $8.30 shot from barrier two, while Hurricane Harley misbehaved from gate one and came in 10th at $1.20.
Both have sensational strike rates — Centenario has eight wins including two Group 1s from 10 starts for more than $257,000, and Harley six from eight for more than $101,000.
“They’re hard to split,” Stewart said. “Centenario has done nothing wrong — he’s a genuine racehorse — but if Hurricane Harley was on his back then I’d be a little bit worried because
he’s very fast.”
If the Stewart juggernaut was to be upstaged, the odds suggest it may be another leviathan in famous colours.
Champion New Zealand trainer Mark Purdon saddles up Im Anothermasterpiece, who ran an audacious second to Centenario in their semi-final at Bendigo last Saturday night and is the $6.50 third favourite.
And while Stewart said “the market is probably right”, she admits to having a soft spot for $61 outsider Fourbigmen.
“He can do a bit wrong at the races at the moment, but if he puts his best foot forward and there’s speed on early he’ll definitely be running home strong,” she said.
“He is a great type, has a good attitude and is beautiful to look at.”
For those who value trackwork, Stewart said “Fourbigmen can match Centenario here (at home) and Harley doesn’t work as good.
“If you drove them here you’d pick Centenario every time because he’s a real good track worker whereas Hurricane just does what he has to.
“Fourbigmen works as good at home, but at the races he’s a little bit naughty.”
Stewart’s stable has 21 horses in action tonight.
