Harness Highlights

By Michael Howard (HRV)

Mark Pitt was also a key part of one of the more enthralling stoushes on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton, although on that occasion he and The Lost Storm had their colours lowered by School Captain, who was outstanding for trainer Russell Jack and reinsman Nathan Jack.

For the latter, victory in the IRT Australia Breeders Crown for two-year-old boys was an emotional result, having claimed the title for his dad Russell and long-time supporters Anne and Bill Anderson.

“This one’s a bit different, that’s for sure,” Jack said.

“I had a lot of faith in this horse. Bill and Anne have been great and Dad’s here, it just means a lot.”

School Captain held The Lost Storm on his outside hip throughout and Jack was quick to up the tempo through a 28.5sec second quarter.

He then found another gear in the third and followed that 26.7sec quarter with a 27.4sec run to the line that had his rivals gasping, with Perfect Class running terrifically to finish second while The Lost Storm faded to third, beaten 23 metres.

“We were quite comfortable early,” Jack said.

“If they were wanting to run, I was happy leaving them back here, I was never letting them any closer. The work during the week said he was ready to go.”

While Stewart filled placings two to four it would be the only pacing victory that would escape her stable’s clutches.

She enjoyed a familiar winner in Ladies In Red, who was extraordinary in, like Captain Ravishing, sitting parked and putting the leader to the sword.

In this case she battled with her great rival Tough Tilly and avenged her Make Mine Cullen defeat with a dominant performance in the Nutrien Equine Breeders Crown Championship for four-year-old mares.

The result capped Ladies In Red’s Breeders Crown sweep, having also scored as a two and three-year-old.

Earlier in the night the first pacing crown was won by the horse who some have dared mention in the same breadth as Ladies In Red, unbeaten two-year-old Major Delight.

She rewarded those who backed her into $1.10 favourtism with a ninth win from as many outings, but it was a narrow win in the end with stablemate Tempting Tigress looming ominously late.

Having broken open the field with a 27.4-second third quarter Major Delight, clearly out in front, appeared to knock off a little in the run to the line, getting home in a modest 29-second final quarter.

Despite suffering her first defeat Tempting Tigress was impressive for Stewart, who produced the first four home, with Perfect In Pink just five metres behind the leaders while Spring Blue was fourth.

Stewart would also score with Encipher (two-year-old pacing fillies) and Act Now (four-year-old mares), a short-priced pair who led and dominated their races for Kate Gath and Jodi Quinlan respectively.

It was a particularly remarkable result for Gath, bringing up her 50th career Group 1 and fittingly on a horse bred and owned by Tyson Linke of South Australia, Gath’s birth state.

For Encipher the win comes on top of her triumph as a two-year-old and boosts her earnings to almost $400,000, while Act Now’s success, a 14th win with Quinlan, adds to his three-year-old Breeders Crown victory and two-year-old second placing.