Premier horsewoman Emma Stewart is poised to strengthen her stranglehold on the Breeders Crown series.
Dominating the futurity like no other during the past decade, Stewart has won 12 of the 18 two-year-old pacing finals since 2016.
Successful in one final every year, Stewart has also completed five clean sweeps of the deciders.
It is almost identical in the three-year-old division, with Stewart once again triumphant in 12 of the 18 finals since 2016.
Winner of eight finals during the past four years, Stewart has five clean sweeps overall.
Before being discontinued in 2023, Stewart won 10 of 16 four-year-old finals, including three clean sweeps.
Based on Friday night’s heats at Melton, Stewart will once again collect numerous trophies during this Saturday night’s Breeders Crown finals card at the same venue.
Loucasso secured the two-year-old heat for colts and geldings, with Captain Perfect too good in the second three-year-old qualifier. Stewart never had a runner in the first heat.
Stewart also won the opening heat for three-year-old fillies with Let Her Roll, while finishing second in the other.
To top it off, Stewart was victorious in both heats for two-year-old fillies thanks to One Millie and Bettor Beach.
Stewart’s haul included two quinellas and a trifecta.
“It was a terrific night for the stable, and more importantly, for our owners,” Stewart said. “We knew we had a strong hand in the heats and we’re very pleased with the results.
“The Breeders Crown is one of the main targets each season and we’ve been very fortunate to have enjoyed a fair bit of success in it.
“With a bit of luck, that will continue to be the case in the finals.”
While Stewart has a great chance of claiming multiple Group 2 wins in Saturday night’s pacing showdowns, she will not play a part in the four Group 1 trotting finals.
Heats for those races were held at Bendigo on Wednesday, with recent Vicbred Super Series champions Keayang Bazlenka, Harperseven, Mecarno and I Am Wilma all successful in their respective qualifiers.
