.jpg)
A good problem to have may have been coined for Emma Stewart’s stable as they finalise plans over the next 72 hours ahead of their assault on next Saturday’s Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series finals.
Amid a national metropolitan training record with eight wins in one meeting, Stewart and her Ballarat stable qualified a stunning 18 of her 28 semi-final contestants for the July 7 Group 1 sires’ showcase, including some super showdowns that will challenge driver loyalties.
Reinsman Chris Alford has steered three-year-old colt Poster Boy to all but one of his 12 wins, but will be hard-pressed to avoid the lure of lightly-raced unbeaten stablemate Ride High, who only added to his reputation when winning from the back row last night.
The barrier draws, held at Tabcorp Park’s Legends Café amid the 12-race card, perhaps only complicated matters with Poster Boy drawing two and Ride High 12.
To view the final line-ups for the VSS18 finals click here
Trackside MC Blake Redden’s attempts to evoke a commitment from Alford for thetrots.com.au’s Trots Vision were expertly battered away by the champion reinsman, who said those decisions would be made with Stewart and partner Clayton Tonkin, adding “we won’t know until Monday or Tuesday”.
.jpg)
The stable’s depth in this class is further made evident by the fact Konan, who topped NSW Derby winner Poster Boy in their semi-final, also looms large for driver Mark Pitt.
“He has had his little issues along the way but always (been) thereabouts with the big boys,” Pitt said of Konan post-win. “These last two runs have been outstanding. He’s done that pretty easy tonight. He’s got no quit in him, which is great for these horses.”
On Ride High, winner of all four of his starts, Alford said “he’s pretty untapped really. He seems to do everything really within himself. He’s got everything to make a real top liner.”
It’s but one snapshot of the storylines to unfold across two big nights at Tabcorp Park Melton for the Aldebaran Park trotting finals on Friday and Empire Stallions pacing finals on Saturday.
It will also be a big night for Michael Stanley’s Burrumbeet stable, with six of their nine semi-final contestants qualifying for the finals, including three-year-old filly Soho Burning Love.
She turned the tables on Nostra Villa in the last semi-final of the night, denying Stewart a historic ninth win and setting up a pearler of a final showdown, with Soho Burning Love drawn gate two and Nostra Villa gate five.
“(Nostra Villa)’s a very hard horse to get past,” Stanley told Trots Vision post-race. “I probably just had the better run on the night. Last week I thought I had Nostra Villa beat on the bend and my filly probably ran out of puff. I’m very pleased she’s come on well tonight.
“We have half of our stable here tonight and managed to get six through to the finals. Although we only had one winner it’s been a successful night.”
To view the final line-ups for the VSS18 finals click here
