Trainer Emma Stewart admits she has a favourite horse around the stables.
His name is Jadahson and on Sunday he comfortably held off a strong field of rivals to capture the silverware in the Charlton and District Community Bank Charlton Pacing Cup.
“He is my favourite … Clayton (Tonkin) used to bag him all the time but he’s always been my favourite,” she laughed.
WATCH JADAHSON TAKE OUT SUNDAY’S CHARLTON PACING CUP
“He was really quiet and easy to get along with as a two and three-year-old. He’s not as much now but we get along really well.”
The eight-year-old by Falcon Seelster out of Jadah Rose has won three races since returning from a long layoff to recuperate from a broken pastern, taking out an M2-M4 event at Tabcorp Park Melton, the Heathcote Pacing Cup at Bendigo and Sunday’s Group 3 feature at Charlton over 2570m in a mile rate of 1:57.9.
Stewart heaped praise on the horse.
“He’s done a terrific job. We didn’t think he’d come back quite as good but it was well worth getting the screw put in,” she said.
“It’s very satisfying. You’re never quite sure how they’ll come back.”
It wasn’t just Jadahson drawing high praise from his proud trainer, however. Stewart lauded young reinsman Mark Pitt’s drive and predicted big things for the 22-year-old from Avenel.
“He’s a great little driver. We want him to eventually step up and be our next main stable driver. We rate him really highly. He’s a good kid with a bright future,” she said.
Pitt sat patiently towards the back of the field aboard Jadahson on Sunday before easing three-wide down the back the final time.
At the home bend Jadahson hit the front from a tiring Barimah (third placegetter) and held off fast finishers Five Star Anvil (second) and National Service (fourth).
The last 800m was covered in 57.7, with Jadahson about 20m off the lead at the half-mile.
Jadahson won’t contest either of the cups this weekend at Cranbourne or Ouyen, but Stewart didn’t rule out a shot at the Kilmore Pacing Cup on March 19.
“Not sure, we’ll just have to see what sort of field they get,” she said.
Sunday’s win took Jadahson’s race record to 74 starts for 25 wins and 17 minor placings for earnings of $268,438.
Meanwhile, Super Zeck continued his terrific run with a fourth straight win in the Charlton Trotters Cup on Sunday for trainer Darren Cole and driver John Caldow.
CHECK OUT SUPER ZECK NOTCHING ANOTHER COUNTRY CUP WIN ON SUNDAY
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