Emma Stewart’s meteoric rise through the ranks of Australian harness racing has been nothing short of remarkable.
And this weekend, the 40-year-old horsewoman goes in search of her 100th Group 1 training victory - a feat that has not yet been achieved in this country.
Well, that’s aside from Queensland-born Natalie Rasmussen, but most of her elite level wins have come in partnership with Mark Purdon in New Zealand.
If successful in Saturday night’s Nutrien Equine Alabar Farms 2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings Final at Menangle - with either First Responder (barrier two), Major Celebrity (three) or Petracca (four) - Stewart will have chalked up a century of Group 1 triumphs just over 20 years since training her first runner.
“I still remember my first one so 100 has crept up a lot quicker than we thought. Fingers crossed it happens this weekend, but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t,” Stewart told SEN Track on Thursday.
“It would be pretty exciting.”
That maiden Group 1 win came courtesy of Manwarra Hatrick, who produced a gutsy front-running effort for Brian Gath in the Vicbred Super Series 4YO Mares Final at Moonee Valley in 2007.
Gath drove Stewart’s first three Group 1 winners – partnering Manwarra Goforgold and Safari to victory in 2007 and 2008 – and bobbed up for another with Rocknrolla in 2009.
Chris Alford and Gavin Lang stand well clear as Stewart’s most successful drivers on the Group 1 stage.
Alford has piloted 27 of Stewart’s winners, with Lang steering 21 over the line.
Of all the Group 1 victors that have passed through the stables, 27 of them have won multiple times at the top grade. The most prolific of those is wonder mare Ladies In Red and Poster Boy with five each, while Guaranteed and the recently-retired Maajida both pocketed four in glittering careers.
With three live chances in Saturday night’s feature, Stewart isn’t giving much away in regards to which horse might be the most likely to take her to the milestone.
“I reckon they’re even to be honest,” Stewart said.
“And the draw doesn’t make it any easier to pick which one I think’s going to win. I think they’re pretty even and I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them won really.”