Champion trainer Emma Stewart moved to the lead in the Metropolitan Trainers Premiership after landing a winning treble at Melton on Saturday night.
Stewart launched the night in successful fashion when the lightly raced three-year-old Enjoy Life tasted success on Victorian soil for the first time in the Nevele R Stud Pace.
Unbeaten at five starts in Tasmania, Enjoy Life settled towards the rear of the field before Mark Pitt made a move to sit parked outside the leader with a lap to travel.
Enjoy Life ($1.50 fav) strolled to the front with 400 metres to travel and comfortably held off Royal Appointment to score by seven metres in a mile rate of 1:52.4 for the 1720 metre sprint trip.
Pitt was impressed by the son of Always B Miki’s debut in his home state.
“It was a super effort first up, we haven’t seen here in Victoria yet as he’s done his racing in Tasmania but I think he is one of the better ones going into the future,” Pitt said.
“He can be hard to drive late just knocking off a little bit so he’s still a little bit green but once he works it out, I think we are going to see the real deal in another few runs,” he said.
Stewart and Pitt combined for an early double when Some American ($1.45 fav) led all the way in the Vale Brian Marcovic Pace.
The son of American Ideal reeled off a slick 54.4 last 800 metres to defeat the fast finishing Catch A Wave by two metres with Calexico a further two metres away third in a mile rate of 1:53.1.
“We had to make sure we got off the gate well and keep it a nice tempo so when the backmarkers were ready to make their moves we put the foot down a bit,” he said.
“We had to make a bit of a break on them around the home turn as he’s just got a tendancy to knock off the last 50 (metres).”
Trainer Andy Gath would have been delighted with the performance of Catch A Wave at his second start back from a spell after being hampered with hoof issues over the past 12 months.
The run suggests the seven times Group 1 winner could still play a role at the elite level during the coming months.
Most Exciting ($1.06 fav) was rewarded for his recent consistent form when he notched up an all the way win in the VHRC Pace.
Pitt said it was a deserved win after the son of Always B Miki had been placed in his past three starts at Melton.
“He’s a nice horse and he’s been knocking on the door with bad barriers but tonight with a good draw I expected him to race really well,” he said.
“He just got a little bit strong through the middle; he just got touching the wheels a couple of times which probably fired him up that little bit but he finished off the race well.”
Stewart now heads the table with 33 winners holding a two-win advantage over the Marg and Paddy Lee stable, who have led for much of the season, on 31.
Finnish born horseman Antti Ruokonen provided the quinella in the IRT Mares Free For All Trot after the well-bred mare No Money No Honey made a long-awaited return to the winner’s stall.
No Money No Honey ($6.50) worked to the lead with 1600 metres to travel and managed to stave off stable mate and $1.75 favorite Keayang Kurki by half a neck.
Driver Glen Craven said he allowed the tempo to settle before pressing forward.
“There was a bit of speed on the front line and once the dust settled, we were able to work around to the front and she had a little bubble half way up the straight but luckily we just saved her and she’s done a good job,” Craven said.
The win also completed a double for Craven who steered Keayang Gypsy to an all the way victory earlier in the Vicbred Voucher Trot.
