Emma Stewart’s utter dominance of the Vicbred Super Series continued unabated at Melton on Saturday night.
The Stewart barn produced the winners of nine of the 12 Semi Finals with members of her powerful muster finishing runner up in another two, while stable driver Mark Pitt took the reins in six of the victories.
Stewart will be represented by no less than 34 runners in next week’s Group 1 Finals.
Stewart equalled her feat of leading in nine winners at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago along with training nine winners at Launceston in April 2022.
Pitt acknowledged the stable’s stunning performance after steering Sweet Bella to victory in the Rock N Roll Heaven Vicrbred Super Series (4YO Mares) (1st Semi Final).
“It’s been a great night tonight and let’s hope it continues into next week,” Pitt said.
Pitt said he was intent on turning the race into a staying test on Sweet Bella.
“Sweet Bella was super,” he said.
“Once she found the front, she’s a pretty strong mare so I kept her rolling along at a good tempo and she hit the line strongly.”
Earlier in the night talented four-year-old pacer The Lost Storm recaptured his best form to take out the Ride High Vicbred Super Series (4YO Entires & Geldings) (1st Semi Final).
The Lost Storm sped to the early lead however Pitt was content to take a sit and await his chance along sprint lane when the $2.40 favorite Keayang Tokyo came looking for the front with 1600 metres to travel.
And that was the scenario in the home straight as The Lost Storm ($4.20) mustered sufficient speed along the sprint lane to get the verdict by a head from Keayang Tokyo with Perfect Class a metre away third in a mile rate of 1:54.4.
The Stewart trained pacer hadn’t been seen in the winner’s circle since saluting at Melton in May
“It’s probably taken him a few runs to get back to his peak form that he left off during his last campaign,” Pitt said.
“He got the run of the race tonight and was too strong for them late,” he said.
Pitt nominated the place getters as the horses to beat in next week’s $150,000 Final.
“I’m sure Keayang Tokyo and Perfect Class are going to be the two main dangers going into the final so let’s hope that we can get a barrier draw advantage over them,” he said.
Leading reinsman James Herbertson completed a running double when he partnered Let Her Roll to victory in the Captain Crunch Vicbred Super Series (2YO Fillies) (1st Semi Final).
Herbertson gave the Emma Stewart trained filly the run of the race in the one out one back trail before pulling out to stake her claim with 400 metres to travel.
Let Her Roll ($7) got the better of stablemate Miss Australiana half way down the home straight before surging clear to score by three metres on the line in a mile rate of 1:54.5.
Herbertson conceded he enjoyed all the right breaks in the run.
“We got a great run through early and lobbed one one and then able to peel at the 400, she had a bit of luck,” Herbertson said.
Herbertson said Let Her Roll can feature prominently in next week’s Final given luck in running.
“With the right run she can figure in the finish so it’ll be interesting,” he said.
Half an hour earlier Herbertson steered the unbeaten colt Always Hot to an all the way win in the Always B Miki Vicbred Super Series (2YO Colts & Geldings) (1st Semi Final).
The Stewart prepared Always Hot ($1.75 fav) reeled off his last 800 metres in a slick 53.8 in scoring comfortably from stable mate Silver Pistol in a mile rate of 1:54.8.
Herbertson said he enjoyed a trouble free run at the head of affairs.
“The race panned out as I hoped it to, being able to find the front without having to do too much,” he said.
“Pitty came around on a good horse (Highland Reel) but my bloke was nice and relaxed in front and dashed up the straight nicely,” he said.
Herbertson said Always Hot is furnishing into the perfect racehorse.
“He is quite versatile and has got lovely manners, he’s still green but he has had a good grounding and I would say that you could do what you want with him and he has a bright future,” he said.
The Aaron Dunn trained pacer Little Louie was the first to break the Stewart stable’s stranglehold of the meeting when he took out the Ride High Vicbred Super Series (4YO Entires & Geldings) (2nd Semi
Final) in a mile rate of 1:53.8.
Dunn acknowledged Little Louie didn’t possess a smooth gait around the home turn.
“He was really good in the run, he just went a little bit rough around the turn as he hasn’t been perfect of late,” Dunn said.
“We’ve always had a little bit of a back issue with him for most of his career,” he said.
The Russell Jack trained filly Tupelo ($4.40) scored a last stride win over the Stewart trained $2.10 favorite Tenaciously in the Captain Crunch Vicbred Super Series (2YO Fillies) (2nd Semi Final) in a mile rate of 1:56.6.
Driver Nathan Jack said Tupelo had benefited from some gear changes since finishing fifth in her heat at Bendigo.
“She showed good gate speed at Bendigo in the heat,” Jack said.
“She put the writing on the wall that night to only get beaten five metres by those good fillies, we made a couple of gear changes and tonight she settled well and did a good job to come off their backs and run them down,” he said.
The Paddy Lee trained sit sprinter Isthisjustfantasy ran up to her recent consistent form when she finished strongly to take out the Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series (4YO Mares) (2nd Semi Final).
Driver Glen Craven aborted an early ‘look’ for the lead after Paradise Valley galloped at the start.
“She was good tonight,” Craven said.
“When the five horse galloped we thought we’d chance the arm and go forward and try and get the front but things didn’t work out early and we still ended up back last
The race was run at a very genuine tempo which allowed us to come into it again late.”
