The TAB Breeders Crown series – Australasia’s premier futurity – will conclude with an exciting crescendo this Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton.

And while this year’s champs will be crowned, it is likely we’ll see the next handful of industry megastars step up and put their names in lights.

The winner of the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings’ final is sure to become an idol of the future, such is the depth of talent involved this year.

Ignatius is a $3 favourite right now at TAB.com.au with his powerful antagonist Poster Boy marginally ahead of Ride High on the second line of betting at $4.2 versus $4.5.

By virtue of the plum gate one barrier draw Brisbane star Colt Thirty One is $5 and Konan – drawn to follow the pride of the sunshine state in eight – is the same price.

Trainer Emma Stewart continued her superb season at Bendigo on Saturday night by winning six of eight TAB Breeders Crown Semi-Finals.

Stewart’s winners were Pistol Abbey and Speak No Evil in the 3YO fillies, Ride High and Poster Boy in the 3YO colts and geldings, and Centenario and Hurricane Harley in the 2YO colts and geldings.

Meanwhile, how about Mark Purdon’s comment that Our Princess Tiffany was “as good as any two-year-old we’ve ever had”? The daughter of Art Major has won eight from eight and will be super short odds on Saturday night in the final.

But there’s potential for an upset via Kualoa, who produced a stellar effort in the Semi-Final to finish 5.7m behind the perfect Purdon filly at the weekend.

 

Déjà vu

Twelve months after Ameretto claimed both the Breeders Crown Mares’ Graduate and the Alabar Breeders Crown Graduate Free-for-All, Kerryn Manning has another of her mares primed for the same double.

Our Golden Goddess has won all three of her runs this time in, including Saturday night’s Mares Graduate in 1:53.1 at Bendigo.

“She’s proven that she’s very versatile. She hasn’t been against the very best yet, but she’s heading that way now,” Manning said.

“She’s a magnificent looking horse. She looks more like a colt than a filly. You can’t really fault her.

“She will go to the Breeders Crown Graduate Free for All, which will be a lot harder, but we will see how she goes.”

 

Shorty sweet

With five wins from seven starts since crossing the ditch from New Zealand, Art Major five-year-old Shortys Mate is proving the punter’s friend.

Trained and driven by Glenn Douglas, Shortys Mate made it three straight wins on Friday night at Tabcorp Park Melton in 1:56.5.

 

Two on the trot

Fatouche made it back-to-back wins at Melton for Donna Castles in the TAB Multiplier Vicbred Trot on Friday night.

The five-year-old daughter of Yankee Spider was impressive, sustaining a long run three-wide during the last lap to hold off a wall of challengers including Opia, Fear Not, Downunder Barkers and Myrtle Vale.

 

Chevy storms home

Love Ina Chevy took his career stake winnings to over $158,000 on Friday night by winning the Garrards Horse and Hound Pace for trainer Lance Justice and reinsman Greg Sugars.

The fast six-year-old by Jeremes Jet roared up the sprint lane to overhaul long odds-on favourite Wrappers Delight in 1:52.5 for the 1720m trip.

Love Ina Chevy is an 18-time winner from 89 starts.

 

Sax hits right note

Gifted pacer Shadow Sax made a winning start to his ID18 campaign with victory in Friday night’s Alabar Minuteman Free-for-All at Melton.

Trained by Emma Stewart, Shadow Sax blasted off the arm for reinsman Chris Alford and never looked in any doubt, beating home Ideal Success and Tee Cee Bee Macray.

Shadow Sax is the reigning Trots Country Cups champion and will likely target the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup and the Inter Dominion in coming months.

Tickets for the ID18 series can be purchased at ID18.com.au

 

Crucio Classic

Soho Crucio took out the two-year-old feature at Globe Derby on Saturday night, the Newspot Motor Group 2YO Classic, for trainer Chris Neilson and driver Wayne Hill.

The former Victorian based Art Major juvenile is two-from-two since moving to South Australia.

Meanwhile, Peter Bain and Ken Rogers combined to take out the DPR Insurance Brokers Mermaid Stakes with Hilltopsomewhere.

 

No keeping up with Jones

Lola Jones caused a minor upset to win the Garrards Baby Bling Stakes at Menangle on Saturday night for trainer Kevin Pizzuto and driver Todd McCarthy.

The McArdle mare had a neck on Ideal Lifestyle at the completion of the mile in 1:51.7.

Former Victorian Bettor Downunder won the HRNSW Guaranteed Ladyship Pace for Jason Grimson in 1:53.9.

 

Hard Copy too strong

My Hard Copy made a strong return in the Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night for Team Hall.

Trained by Gary Hall Snr and driven by son Jnr, My Hard Copy had 3.9m to spare over Galactic Star in the 2536m fast class race. The winner rated 1:56.7.