Poster Boy for Emma Stewart and Chris Alford.
Tabcorp Park Melton was the scene for the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series Semi-Finals tonight and the action was electric.
Here’s what the winning drivers had to say post-race ahead of the Grand Final double-header next Friday and Saturday back here under lights at Victorian Trots Headquarters.
R1 Jodi Quinlan on General Dodge
“I wouldn’t swap him. He can carve out 27-second sectionals and he feels like he’s doing it in third gear. Next week will be harder again. He wanted to over-race in patches tonight. You’ve got to remember he’s only had 10 starts so it’s all still pretty new to him. It’s scintillating the speed that he does possess. He’s a really exciting horse.”
R2 Michael Bellman on Rockstar Angel
“She’s pretty exciting. The hard part’s done now, she’s into the final. Josh and David, and Kima and the rest of the gang have her in perfect order and everything’s ticking along beautifully. Brendan’s idea a couple of weeks ago was to send to Menangle and do her prep up there in the water walker and a bit warmer weather, and her coat suggests that’s worked quite well. One thing’s for sure, she’ll be hard to beat next week.”
R3 Craig Turnbull on Major Occasion
“She’s coming along. (I’m) very thankful to Anthony and Chris for sending her down to me. The draw was vital but she did the job well. It suits her just coming out and relaxing. She can be a bit of a nutter here and there. She can get out of the gate but we pay the penalty during the race and at the end.”
R4 Chris Alford on Nostra Beach
“She’s a lovely filly she’s got speed, she’s got good strength and she relaxes so well. Once she gets into a fight she’ll really dig deep. She stills seems to be on the rise. This filly she just seems to go through her races pretty well and have something in reserve. She’s pretty good at the moment.”
R5 Greg Sugars on Wrappers Delight
“He’s been a very well performed horse right throughout his entire career. He had a good draw tonight, which really helped. Against the very best he’s probably a bit more of an opportunist but given the right run and the right circumstances he’s very good and good enough to knock off the best.”
R6 Greg Sugars on Whirily School
“She’s had a couple of starts early this prep where she was not quite right but ever since then Clayton and Emma have done a great job to resurrect her. She really knuckled down hard the last 400, 500 metres and hit the line strong.”
R7 Anthony Butt on Stars Align
“(That was a) big run. We got running down the back and Chris got me off the bit. Lucky we had a wee breather. He really picked up and felt strong when I did that and felt really strong at the line. He was one of the Purdon army as a three-year-old. It’s not easy getting a horse off Purdon. Sometimes you’re on a hiding to nothing. He’s three-out-of-three here. Dean’s a master trainer in his own right and he’s proven it with this horse.”
R8 Gavin Lang on Major Times
“He’s bred to be a good horse but he’s a big gangly guy at the moment. He possesses his share of ability. His run at Bendigo last week was awesome really. He should be good for next week. He’s a veteran of three, four starts, so don’t worry … if I had have got more fair dinkum with him I’m sure he could have done more than he did. He’s going through it pretty well at the moment. I’ll wake him up when the time needs. When he ran home here in the Youthful Stakes he hit the line very good. He’s pretty versatile, which is a nice asset to have.”
R9 Kim Prentice on Soho Tribeca
“I hadn’t been here before so he had to show me around. He just got left alone. I was hoping the six-horse would stay outside of me a lot longer. Next week we’ll have the pull-ups on him and he’ll find the line next week. He’ll be so, so much better next week.”
R10 Chris Alford on Poster Boy
“He’s racing really well. He’s so beautiful and relaxed and does everything you ask of him. He came out nice and once the speed backed off. He roared up the straight. The draw will be interesting. Emma and Clayton will have six or seven in the final. He doesn’t have to lead. I wouldn’t swap him for any of the others.”
R11 Chris Alford on Miss Graceland
“She zoomed up the straight good. She sort of knocks off a bit when she’s out by herself. She won as she liked, really. She had a bit of a break before the heat and tonight would have topped her right off.”
R12 Michael Stanley on Petacular
“That’s the first times I haven’t had to pull the ear plugs, she’s normally pretty casual. Shows she’s starting to learn what it’s all about. She does it so comfortably. She’s been a top filly all the way through and hopefully we can keep her together.”
> Facebook Gallery of the Winners
> Fields for Super Series Grand Finals
> Semi-Final Facebook Live video wrap
> Semi-Final Results
Media enquiries to:
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)
t: 03 8378 0286 | e: mhoward@hrv.org.au | tw: @MichaelRHoward
