by Trots Media – Cody Winnell
Trainer Emma Stewart qualified 10 two-year-olds for the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series Semi-Finals last night at Bendigo.
The Cardigan trainer presented 12 horses at the 10-race card and won five races.
“They were terrific,” Stewart said of her team. “You always go into these nights hopeful so we were really pleased.”
Stewart’s winners were Concealment (an Art Major-Trojan Fire colt), Nostra Villa (an Art Major-Crystal Journey filly), Tam Major (an Art Major-Magic Z Tam colt), Poster Boy (a Somebeachsomewhere-Aston Villa colt) and Nostra Beach (a Somebeachsomewhere-Amarillen filly).
Vicbred sponsor Empire Stallions had a strong night on the track with Somebeachsomewhere registering two Super Series heat wins and Artistic Fella one (Regal Cheval for trainer Bill Galea).
It was also a big night for Art Major, who sired four Super Series heat winners.
Champion driver Chris Alford drove three of Stewart’s winners last night in Nostra Villa, Tam Major and Poster Boy.
Alford said all three winners were precocious youngsters but highlighted Poster Boy’s potential brilliance.
“He’s pretty untapped at the moment,” Alford said of the half-brother to Yankee Rockstar and Born To Rocknroll.
Poster Boy paced a 1:55.8 mile rate, making him the quickest winner of the night.
His trainer agreed.
“Poster Boy is a freak, so Major Times (stablemate) went bloody super to run second like he did after copping some pressure,” Stewart said.
Nostra Villa remained unbeaten with a 2.4-metre victory over recent Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic winner Imprincessgemma in 1:58.9.
“Normally if they have to run a lead time of 37.3 they don’t even get to the finish, so to still finish it off in 27.4 up the straight was pretty impressive,” Alford said.
Alford described Tam Major as “very strong”, adding “he looked gone at the 600 but kept on whacking away”.
Tam Major refused to yield under driving for the bulk of the last lap as stablemate Tapthekeg sprint-laned to run second and Beltane grinded away from the chair for third.
Other winners in Super Series heats last night were Passions Delight (Bettors Delight-Passions Promise) for trainer Nicole Molander and driver John Caldow in the fillies’ second heat, Regal Cheval (Artistic Fella-Star Cheval) in the second of the colts and geldings’ heats for trainer Bill Galea and reinsman Darby McGuigan, and Craig Turnbull trained-and-driven filly Major Occasion.
Given the quality of horses he is driving it is little wonder Alford enjoys the Vicbred series.
“There’s a bit of pressure driving all these good horses but that’s all good as long as they stay well and get to the finals night.”
The Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series spotlight turns to Kilmore tomorrow night for the three-year-old pacing heats where Stewart and Alford are expected to dominate again.
“Miss Graceland probably looks the pick of the fillies but Tell Me Tales is going very well, too,” Alford said.
“Our Little General is top-line, but the other one (Stars Align, from the Dean Braun stable) felt good the other night, too. I don’t think there’s much between them.”
The Super Series heads to Ballarat on Friday night for the four-year-old heats and Alford was most confident about Rocknroll Magic (in Race 8).
The Vicbred two-year-old semi-finals will be run at Tabcorp Park Melton on June 30.
Click here for full results from last night’s Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series 2YO Heats
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
