By Tim O’Connor (HRV)<\/p>\n
A dominant and brilliant training display saw Emma Stewart record eight wins from ten races on the card last Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The Cardigan horsewoman set the foundations for another golden Group 1 meeting however, fell just short of equaling her record of nine winners at a single race meeting when she claimed seven of the eight Breeders Crown semi-finals and, took out the Breeders Crown Championship for four-year-old mares with Fiamma.<\/p>\n
Stewart is poised to dominate this weekend\u2019s Breeders Crown pacing finals, and perhaps the most exciting stoush will be the one between her unbeaten two-year-old fillies Very Pretty and Draw A Dream.<\/p>\n
Very Pretty stretched her unbeaten record to four with an all-the-way victory in the first semi-final for driver Mark Pitt before Draw A Dream extended her\u2019s to six after a dominant display in the second qualifier.<\/p>\n
Pitt was full of compliments for the star daughter of American Ideal, who provided him with one of six winners for the evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a lovely filly,\u201d Pitt said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time she steps out, she seems to get a little bit better. Even with her racing manners, she seems a lot better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Very Pretty zipped home in slashing final quarter of 26.3.<\/p>\n
\t* * *<\/p>\n
Draw A Dream upped the pace in the third section of the last mile. With Rickie Alchin\u2019s top filly Lux Aeterna up on her outside, Draw A Dream put the foot down with a third quarter of 26.9 before forging clear in the home straight to win by more than eight metres over stablemate Eureka Jo.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a great race in the final,\u201d Draw A Dream\u2019s driver David Moran said.<\/p>\n
Draw A Dream is looking for a rare feature double in her first season of racing after taking out September\u2019s Vicbred Super Series Final.<\/p>\n
\t* * *<\/p>\n
Timmy Rictor was brilliant from the front in the first semi-final for the two-year-old colts and geldings, leading and dashing home in a rapid 26.3 last quarter to win by nearly 8m over stablemate Some American.<\/p>\n
After dominating both qualifiers, Moran felt his charge was a great chance in this weekend\u2019s Group 1 showdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously barrier draws play a big part with some of these really nice two-year-olds, but I think he definitely is,\u201d Moran said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe seems to have all the attributes of a nice horse. He\u2019s got terrific gate speed and he\u2019s got a fair bit of bottom to him, so hopefully luck comes our way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t* * *<\/p>\n
Major Delight produced a brilliant death seat success in her semi-final for three-year-old fillies and will likely start favourite in her bid for back-to-back Breeders Crown titles.<\/p>\n
Stablemate Joyful sat parked for the last lap and snuck home for a narrow victory in the division\u2019s other showdown on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The first six horses over the line in each semi-final \u2013 as well as the fastest seventh place-getter – now progress to the finals this Saturday.<\/p>\n
Four pacing and four trotting features will be held at Melton Entertainment Park this Saturday 25 November.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Tim O’Connor (HRV) A dominant and brilliant training display saw Emma Stewart record eight wins from ten races on the card last Saturday night. The Cardigan horsewoman set the foundations for another golden Group 1 meeting however, fell just short of equaling her record of nine winners at a single race meeting when she […]<\/p>\n