Honolua Bay stretches winning streak

By Tim O’Connor (HRV)

Last season’s standout Victorian four-year-old male pacer Honolua Bay looks destined for some of the state’s big features after a scintillating performance first-up from a break at Kilmore last Saturday night.

The horse made it six wins from six starts since joining the Emma Stewart stable with a track record-equalling performance in the Popular Alm Sprint.

From a back row draw, Honolua Bay sat off the solid early tempo before driver Nathan Jack popped up into the death seat at the bell. He put his nose in front of leader Max Delight before the home turn and then held off runner-up Better Be The Bomb, who had his back but could only get 2.9m from him on the line.

The win came in a mile rate of 1:53.4min, which was the same record time Bitobliss (2014) and Reactor Now (2020) had previously clocked over the Kilmore 1690m trip.

“He gave me an awesome feel along the back when he was up racing Josh (Aiken, Max Delight). Josh’s horse was up keen and wanting to go and he just jogged up outside him. You shouldn’t be able to do that to a quality horse like that,” Jack said.

“He probably got a little bit tired on the line, but his last quarter (27.4sec) wouldn’t have suggested that.”

Jack expected Stewart and the connections of Bill and Anne Anderson to aim Honolua Bay at the big races at the back end of the year.

“I think they’re talking Victoria Cups and Inter Dominions. I think they’re pretty high up the ladder that’s for sure,” Jack said.

“They (Stewart and Clayton Tonkin) have got a few at home that they should know what (is needed) to win it. They’ve got a few measuring sticks and I reckon they’d have a fair idea.”

Honolua Bay won nine of 16 starts while trained by David Aiken early in his career and has not been beaten in six runs for the Stewart camp.

His overall record now stands at 15 victories from 22 starts, with close to $250,000 in the bank.