Petracca helped ease the heartbreak of his Melbourne-mad owner by providing him with some September finals success on a blockbuster night of harness racing at Melton on Saturday.

The Emma Stewart-trained pacer broke his Group 1 drought with a dominant display in the Vicbred Super Series final for three-year-old colts and geldings, leading and then racing clear to beat stablemates Techys Watching and Perfect Class by more than 10m.

His victory was just the tonic for Danny Zavitsanos, who purchased the son of Captaintreacherous and named him after Demons superstar Christian Petracca.

The triumph was the third of four on the all-Group 1 card for reinsman Mark Pitt, who missed an important family wedding in New South Wales to drive at Saturday night’s $1.5 million meeting.

“He is a lovely little fella,” Pitt said after the race.

“I am surprised that he hasn't won a Group 1, but he had the draw (barrier one) on the lot of them and it was always good to use that advantage.

“He just travelled so well and when I asked him to go, he went tonight.”

Stewart created a new record for most winners trained at a single Victorian harness meeting when she claimed nine of last weekend’s Vicbred Super Series semi-finals, and captured five Group 1 deciders - four in the pacing ranks – seven days later.

Petracca’s stablemate Amore Vita became just the second female pacer to complete a Vicbred clean sweep when she backed up her wins at two and three with success in the final for four-year-old pacing mares.

It gave champion reinsman Chris Alford a Group 1 double at Melton after he had previously saluted with Gary and Debbie Quinlan’s Sahara Breeze in the three-year-old fillies’ showdown.

“It’s great that she can join Maajida as the only mares that have won the two, three and fours,” Alford said.

“She maybe was a little bit flat from last week – she ran super – and just sort of felt a bit doughy tonight, but that might have just been because she was in front. She might have just been waiting for them a bit, getting a bit smart.”

Andy Gath has produced many pieces of brilliance in his time as a trainer, and his efforts with recent stable acquisition Solesseo Matuca are certainly worthy of joining that long list.

Gath and long-time owner Norm Jenkin purchased the son of A Rocknroll Dance following his last start for previous connections in early July, with the horse winless since December 2021.

But he continued a remarkable return to form with his third success at start six for Gath and his team when he sprint-laned to victory in Saturday night’s Ride High Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old colts and geldings.

In the aftermath of the triumph, driver Kate Gath revealed the horse's identity was kept secret in his initial days at her Long Forest barn.

“The truth is that I didn't know who it was for three days when (he) arrived at the stables because Andy wouldn’t tell me,” Kate said.

“He knew that I'd be like 'why did you buy that for?', but he knew exactly what he was doing.

“The horse has been so honest since we purchased him… he’s always been up to this grade as a two and three-year-old.”

Stewart’s other Vicbred pacing victories came with two-year-olds Draw A Dream and Stormryder for drivers Kerryn Manning and Pitt respectively.

2023 VICBRED SUPER SERIES PACING WINNERS

The Storm Inside Vicbred Super Series for 2YO pacing colts and geldings

Champion: Stormryder

Trainer: Emma Stewart

Driver: Mark Pitt

Owners: J E Davies, S C Stewart

Breeders: B C Edward, V A Edward

Second: Some American. Third: Our Luciano.

Always B Miki Vicbred Super Series for 3YO pacing fillies

Champion: Sahara Breeze

Trainer: Gary and Debbie Quinlan

Driver: Chris Alford

Owners: P Watkinson, R B Paul, D J Quinlan

Breeders: R B Paul, P Watkinson

Second: Sweet Bella. Third: Joyful.

Vincent Vicbred Super Series for 3YO pacing colts and geldings

Champion: Petracca

Trainer: Emma Stewart

Driver: Mark Pitt

Owners: AD Investments Pty Ltd

Breeders: B J Cameron, C W Cameron

Second: Techys Watching. Third: Perfect Class.

Art Major Vicbred Super Series for 2YO pacing fillies

Champion: Draw A Dream

Trainer: Emma Stewart

Driver: Kerryn Manning

Owners: B C Edward, V A Edward

Breeders: B C Edward, V A Edward

Second: Renewal. Third: Eureka Jo.

Ride High Vicbred Super Series for 4YO pacing entires and geldings

Champion: Solesseo Matuca

Trainer: Andy Gath

Driver: Kate Gath

Owners:  N R (Norm) Jenkin

Breeder: L K (Kenneth) Griffey

Second: Rubins Plight. Third: Ever Hoping.

Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series for 4YO pacing mares

Champion: Amore Vita

Trainer: Emma Stewart

Driver: Chris Alford

Owners: S A Dolan, Est of G R Adamson

Breeders: S A Dolan, Estate of Grant Ronald Adamson

Second: Just Hope. Third: Rakero Rebel.