Tim O'Connor
Trainer Emma Stewart created a new record for winners at a single Victorian meeting when she triumphed in nine Vicbred Super Series semi-finals on Saturday night.
Stewart’s Melton heroics equalled the Australian mark she set at Launceston last year and readies her for a mammoth night of Group 1 VSS finals this weekend.
In all, the Cardigan horsewoman qualified 27 runners (excluding emergencies) for the elite level showdowns on September 16.
Part of Stewart’s dominance on Saturday night was a clean sweep of the three-year-old semi-finals.
Joyful kept her tilt at back-to-back Vicbred titles on track after an impressive performance in a clash with the fillies.
The daughter of Always B Miki was buried three back the pegs behind stablemates Elysian Jay and Perfect In Pink, but driver James Herbertson got her off the inside at just the right time to finish over the top of sparring partner Sahara Breeze in the run to the line.
In the end, Joyful had nearly 5 metres to spare over Sahara Breeze, with the pair well clear of third place-getter and roughie Paradise Valley.
“She always travelled nice and it took a little bit for her to click into gear, but she was strong to the line,” Herbertson said.
“It was just a thing of getting her out and getting her rolling, just making sure she had clear running for the last couple of hundred (metres).
“She’s a race mare and she knows what she’s doing.”
Joyful won the two-year-old fillies’ final last year when she narrowly defeated Perfect In Pink.
Techys Watching performed below par when a beaten favourite in last week’s heats at Ballarat, but capitalised on a hot early burn to land the opening Vicbred semi-final for the three-year-old colts and geldings.
Stewart closed the night in style when Petracca and Sweet Bella prevailed in respective races for the three-year-old boys and girls.
