IT was a Del-Re A G Hunter Cup to treasure and not just for champion trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin.’
Last night’s field was best assembled in Australasia for at least three years and delivered a cracking contest with early fireworks, drama, a sublime winning drive and a defining moment.
Honolua Bay’s win, helped by a glorious cut-the-corner drive from David Moran, was Stewart’s 111th Group 1 training win and almost the most important in so many ways. For so long the dominant force in Victoria, it was their first win in the state’s biggest race.
In fact, it was Stewart and Tonkin’s first real statement at Grand Circuit level.
And it came with a pacer they have transformed from a speedster into a complete package, much to the pleasant surprise of owner-breeders Bill and Anne Anderson of Lauriston Bloodstock.
The Inter Dominion series late last year proved the making of Honolua Bay and Bill Anderson admitted it was somewhat against their wishes that the gelding even contested the entire series.
“We were going on a cruise and before we left we told them (Stewart and Tonkin) to just run him in the first round of heats at Ballarat then scratch him from the series to focus on the Miracle Mile,” he said.
But Stewart and Tonkin were adamant Honolua Bay not only handled the four runs in two weeks, but also thrive on it.
They were right.
Honolua Bay’s slashing Ballarat Cup second was career-best and then he went at least as well winning the Hunter Cup.
“The Inter Dominion was the making of him. He came through it better than any of our horses and look how he’s gone on with it since,” Stewart said.
Tonkin credited Stewart’s brother, Sam, as the key force behind Honolua Bay’s development.
“Sam’s done all the work with him. When he came to us he was a bit ‘hot’ but now he’s finishing off staying races like he did last night,” he said.
“It’s amazing feeling to win a race like this. It’s very special.”
The win also turned around a trying two years for Moran since winning the 2021 Hunter Cup with own superstar pacer Lochinvar Art, who has since moved to the US to continue his racing career. He won his first US run for Team Tritton at The Meadowlands today.
Lochinvar Art has his issues after winning the Hunter Cup, Moran “won” the 2021 Inter Dominion final aboard Expensive Ego before losing in it the stewards’ room to Boncel Benjamin and he also had a seven-month stint on the sidelines through suspension.
“This one means a lot,” he said. “I’m so appreciative of the loyalty and support from the Andersons, Emma and Clayton. It’s a privilege to drive a horse like him,” Moran said.
Honolua Bay won by 4.7m over Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow, who returned to his best form, while Kiwi raider Old Town Road stamped himself as a star of the future with a fantastic third after sitting parked for much of the 2760m.
The drama came early and the race and after it for favourite and dual NZ Cup winner Copy That.
Driver Blair Orange had a serious and unsuccessful crack at taking the lead from Spirit Of St Louis, setting up a blistering 80.3sec lead time.
Copy That never settled properly after that, eventually choking down and being retired from the race in the middle stages. He was subsequently found to also have had a minor bleed and stood down for 28 days.
Honolua Bay joins Mighty Ronaldo (Fremantle Cup) and Diego (WA Pacing Cup) as the third Grand Circuit race winner this season.
The next leg of the revamped seven-race Grand Circuit is the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 4.
