Dunn denies Stewart a Crown clean sweep

By David Brehaut (HRV)

Horsham owner-trainer-driver Aaron Dunn did what no one else could do at Maryborough on Sunday.

He denied the powerful team of Emma Stewart a win in a Breeders Crown heat.

Dunn guided Little Louie to victory in the third IRT Australia Breeders Crown Series heat for two-year-old colts and geldings in the last race of the day.

Stewart had won all five previous two-year-old heats on the day – three for fillies, and two for colts and geldings.

Bred by Dunn’s parents Barry and Yvonne, Little Louie lived up to strong support by punters to lead most of the way.

The colt’s only previous win had been on debut six starts earlier at Swan Hill in May.

Dunn had one of the big improvers in last year’s Breeders Crown series for two-year-old colts and geldings in Flash Jimmy.

He stepped up at big odds to finish second in a heat, and went on be second in a semi-final and fourth in the Group 1 final.

In recording the fastest heat time of 1:57.5, Little Louie has indicated he too can take Dunn all the way to the final and perhaps even do better than his former stablemate.

Despite lowering her colours in the last heat of the day, Stewart capped off an extraordinary three days.

She won five Breeders Crown three-year-old heats at Bendigo on Friday night, four races at Melton on Saturday and then the five Breeders Crown two-year-old qualifiers.

Tempting Tigress, the unbeaten Major Delight and Perfect In Pink swept the fillies’ heats at Maryborough, and Techys Watching kept the run going with The Lost Storm in the colts and geldings’ division.

Mark Pitt finished the day with six driving winners from the 10 races on the card.

The Crown semi-finals will be contested at Tabcorp Park on Saturday night.