Champion Victorian trainer Emma Stewart has won 140 Group 1 races, but says winning the TAB Eureka is the biggest thrill of her career.
And she has a tattoo to prove it.
Days after winning the inaugural $2.1mil TAB Eureka in September, 2023 with Encipher, Stewart had the former superstar mare’s name tattooed on her right forearm.
“That night was as good as it gets,” Stewart said. “Just the whole thing, the mare meant so much to us, she was the very last horse into the field, the crowd was huge and it was the first time the race had been run.”
Stewart almost needed to head back for more ink when Bay Of Biscay and High Above – who she trains in partnership with Clayton Tonkin – ran second and third in last year’s TAB Eureka.
Looking at the arsenal she has aimed at Saturday week’s TAB Eureka, Stewart could be adding to the artwork on her arm soon after September 6.
Although last year’s runner-up Bay Of Biscay is her only guaranteed runner with a slot right now, but Stewart is guaranteed at least another two runners through slots held by loyal stable clients Danny and Jo Zavitsanos and the Summit Bloodstock/Aaron Bain crew.
So, that’s three, which will equal the record number of starters by a single trainer in the TAB Eureka set by Stewart last year.
What is even more remarkable, other Stewart-trained pacers, the unbeaten three-year-old Always Hot and superstar mare Very Pretty, would have been “locks” for TAB Eureka slots had they not been injured.
As it stands, Stewart trains four of the first nine in pre-post betting, including $4 favourite Bay Of Biscay, in this year’s race. The others are Miki To Success ($6), Fox Dan ($16) and Go Miki ($16).
You can also add $21 shot War Dan Buddy, who Stewart insists is still “right in the mix” for a slot.
Who and how many runners she has this year will come down to Saturday night and how Fox Dan (race nine) and War Dan Buddy (race three) perform in their final lead-up races at Melton tomorrow (Saturday) night.
There was speculation Bay of Biscay would also race at Melton, but he will instead have an “unofficial” trial with stablemates at Ballarat today (Friday)
Summit Bloodstock chief Jamie Durnberger said he was happy to wait until this weekend to settle on a slot runner.
“It’s worked so far by waiting until late and taking a guide from Emma and Clayton,” he said.
“We went very late with Encipher in year one and I think it’s as big a moment as we’ve had in the game.
“Last year, we went late again with High Above, who Emma and Clayton thought would run a big race, he finished a terrific third.
“We’re ready to win it again. We’d love to.”
Miki To Success, Go Miki and War Dan Buddy look the most likely contenders for the Summit slot.
Most expect Team Zav to go with Fox Dan, but War Dan Buddy is the obvious other option given that pair are both owned by Danny and Jo Zavitsanos.
Photography: Club Menangle
