Night of nights for Stewart

By Tim O’Connor (HRV)

Saturday was one of Emma Stewart’s greatest ever nights at the Melton Entertainment Park races, with the Victoria Cup wedged in between wins in two of the state’s most prestigious three-year-old features.

The champion horsewoman prepared the first five runners home in the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks after David Moran combined with Sweet Bella to claim the $150,000 Group 1 over favourite Major Delight in a photo finish.

Earlier, Stewart had the quinella in the Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby after Petracca outmuscled stablemate Perfect Class to prevail in the $200,000 classic.

Petracca, owned by Melbourne Demons-mad football fan Danny Zavitsanos, backed up his last-start Vicbred Super Series success with a second-successive Group 1 victory in a race that has been run since 1914.

“I just didn’t want to do too much work and luckily I was able to just poke around (from the back row). He’s just a beautiful horse to drive, he kept nice and settled for me,” driver Cam Hart said.

“It was just a matter of getting the right one to follow and Perfect Class, on paper, looked like it was going to probably move. He did and it worked out all good for us.”

Brent Lilley-trained Queen Elida captured her seventh Group 1 courtesy of a masterful Chris Alford drive in the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint, while Shes Ruby Roo nailed reigning Victorian 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year Rockinwithattitude for the second weekend in a row to win the Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks for Myrniong trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars.