Quality mares looking to turn tables on Stewart stable

Above-average mares Momentslikethese and Dougs Babe have spent the past couple of years chasing home the Emma Stewart-trained multiple Group 1 winners Ladies In Red and Tough Tilly.

On Saturday night, the pair has drawn to fight out the finish of the Group 3 Allied Express Richmond Lass despite the presence of the Stewart-trained $2.30 favorite Treachery, who has to contend with an outside front row draw.

Geoff Webster, who puts the polish on Dougs Babe, admits he’s had cause to question the ill fortune of striking a crop of fillies the calibre of Ladies In Red and Tough Tilly.

“Dougs Babe is a really nice filly, but we’ve been chasing Emma’s pair for two years and can’t beat them,” Webster said.

Webster, who has handed the reins to Chris Alford at Melton this Saturday night, anticipates an initial battle for the early lead between Dougs Babe and Momentslikethese.

“My mare has good gate speed as has Momentslikethese and you have to go forward over the short trip,” he said.

Momentslikethese is coming off a career-best performance when finishing just behind the placegetters in the APG Gold Bullion Series 4YO Mares Final at Menangle.

Regular driver Greg Sugars, who trains in partnership with wife Jess Tubbs, believes the daughter of Art Major has shown further improvement from last season when she took out the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

“She has found extra gate speed at the races and at home she is a lot sharper in her track work and won’t let another horse get past her,” Sugars said.

“If she had been just behind the leaders instead of last on the home turn, she would have gone very close in the APG Final,” he said.

There is still the Emma Stewart factor for both mares to overcome with Treachery looking to repeat her first-up win at Melton a fortnight ago.

Treachery rounded off last season with a placing behind stablemate Rogue Wave in the Vicbred Super Series 3YO Filllies semi-final before finishing third behind Ladies In Red in the Group 1 final.