CHAMPION trainer Emma Stewart heads a stunning female dominance of the Inter Dominion pacing final.
Stewart’s record-equalling five finalists are the bulk of the 10 runners from 12 starters in Saturday’s Group 1 final trained by females.
Stewart, who trains in partnership with Clayton Tonkin, matched the record set by power Kiwi combination Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, who qualified five runners for the 2019 Auckland Inter Dominion final and snared first and third with Ultimate Sniper and Thefixer.
But the dominance of Stewart and Tonkin has trumped that given they won seven of the nine qualifying heats across three nights of pacing series.
And the quality is there, too. Three of Stewart and Tonkin’s finalists share pre-barrier draw favouritism for the final at $5. They are: Act Now, Honolua Bay and Mach Dan.
The other female-trained finalists are: Expensive Ego and Spirit Of St Louis (Belinda McCarthy), Better Eclipse (Jess Tubbs), Bundoran (Amanda Turnbull) and Petes Said So (KerryAnn Morris).
Only two females have trained Inter Dominion pacing winners. Natalie Rasmussen trained and drove the great Blacks A Fake to a record four final wins (2006, ’07, ’08 and 2010) and then teamed with Mark Purdon to win the 2019 final with Ultimate Sniper.
The ground-breaker was Kiwi Lorraine Nolan, who trained Yulestar to an upset win in the 2001 Brisbane final.
“It’s a huge thrill and really satisfying to get so many through to the final at what’s really the first serious crack at an Inter Dominion we’ve had,” Stewart said.
“All five have a winning chance, too.
“The barrier draws are going to be really important. I’d lean to Act Now because he’s so tough and versatile. You can count on him when the chips are down.”
Act Now earned his reputation as a leader at two and three, but two of his three runs through the Inter Dominion have been from off the speed. He led throughout to smash the track record and win his last-round heat at Geelong last night (Saturday).
And Act Now has even more female flavour, being driven by Jodi Quinlan, who has won a Miracle Mile, but is yet to taste Inter Dominion success.
“That was a big win because he got fired-up in front after an early burn and still kept going,” Quinlan said. “He’s shown great versatility and gives you a Plan A, B and C, but, yes, I’d still love a good draw in the final.”
Honolua Bay has been the “find” of the series, going through the heats unbeaten.
“He’s just gone to another level,” driver David Moran said. “I wasn’t sure a series like this would suit him, especially the longer races, but he’s kept getting better and stronger.
“The (long) 2570m didn’t bother him tonight and he’ll make the trip in the final (2760m) without any worries.
“He doesn’t necessarily need a good draw, either. He’s probably better when you don’t rush him out at the start.”
The trotting series is in limbo with long-time favourite Bolt For Brilliance under an injury cloud.
The Kiwi superstar was found to be lame after finishing a close second to local star Just Believe at Geelong.
Stewards have ordered Bolt For Brilliance to undergo a veterinary inspection before being cleared to contest the final.
The barrier draws for the pacing and trotting finals are live on Sky Racing 2 (Foxtel 527) and TrotsVision at 7.30pm AEDT tomorrow (Monday).
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
