Classy youngsters to follow same path

SUCCESSFUL in last Saturday night’s co-features in Melton, Cardigan Sniper and La Cantatrice will continue to follow similar paths in coming weeks.

A member of the all-conquering Emma Stewart stable, Cardigan Sniper continued his impeccable record by capturing the Youthful Stake in effortless fashion.

With Mark Pitt in the cart, the son of Ultimate Sniper rated 1:56.1 over 2240 metres to stretch his tally to four wins from five starts.

Set to enjoy “a few easy days”, Cardigan Sniper will then be aimed at the Vicbred Super Series, which begins with heats in Melton on August 28.

Triumphant in the fillies’ division of the Youthful Stake, La Cantatrice’s next outing will also be a Vicbred qualifier according to trainer Geoff Webster.

The fillies’ heats are programmed for the same card as the ‘boys’.

“The Vicbred is where we are heading with her, so she won’t race again until the heats,” Webster said. “She’s putting together a nice record and hopefully can progress well in the series.”

Raced on lease by the Ballarat and District Trotting Club Standardbred Group, La Cantatrice rated 1:57.5 to score by two-and-a-half metres from Onelook, with Westeria four-and-a-half metres away third.

“She reminds me a lot of Dougs Babe, which I also trained for the Ballarat group,” Webster said. “Babe went on to win a Vicbred Final as a four-year-old.

“They’re from the same bloodline, so hopefully this one can be as successful.”