EMMA Stewart is closing in on WA trainer Gary Hall as the most prolific harness racing group 1 winning trainer in Australia this century.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shadow Sax gave the Smythes Creek-based Stewart her 27th group 1 success at Melton on Saturday night.
This draws her level with Paul Fitzpatrick from NSW in equal second position. Hall senior has 33 group 1 victories to his name in the same period.
Shadow Sax ($4.90) chimed in in the Vicbred Super Series final for 2yo colts and geldings, 2240m. The son of Shadow Play led and then held off a late charge by Brallos Pass ($2 favourite) in the sprint lane.
Shadow Sax now has three win in seven starts for $80,000. The gelding began his racing career with Peter Tonkin - the father of Stewart's partner Clayton Tonkin. He had five starts for Tonkin for two wins, including a VSS heat at Bendigo. Shadow Sax made his next appearance, a Vicbred Super Series semi-final, under Stewart's care.
Stewart went to Melton with outstanding mare Berisari considered her best chance of taking out a VSS win.
Berisari worked her way to head after being headed initially. She ultimately faded to fourth after being caught up in a torrid battle for the lead in the opening lap with Quick Draft, which led to reinsmen Nathan Jack (Berisari) and Josh Aiken (Quick Draft) being suspended after stewards queried their driving tactics.
