Country Cups domination continues

RECORD-BREAKING horsewoman Emma Stewart’s remarkable Victoria country cup domination continued yesterday.

Capturing this season’s provincial features seemingly at will, Stewart’s raids on the rich circuit have netted wins in the Maryborough, Yarra Valley, Geelong, Cranbourne, Shepparton, Hamilton and Ararat Cups.

In Cranbourne Stewart’s runners were the first five across the line.

Stewart’s haul also includes the trifecta in the Geelong Cup and placings in the Stawell and Bendigo Cups.

Stewart’s ever-growing silverware collection expanded on this occasion thanks to Fourbigmen’s triumph in the Charlton Cup.

“We set these races as targets for our stable and it has worked out really well for the team and our owners,” Stewart said.

Driven by Greg Sugars, Fourbigmen led throughout from barrier four to score by three-and-a-half metres from his stablemate Born To Rocknroll.

After racing in the ‘death seat’, Pat Stanley fought on gallantly to be a metre-and-a-half away third.

Owned by a large syndicate, the son of Mach Three rated 1:56.9 over 2570 metres to take his record to 13 wins and 12 placings from 35 starts for earnings of $161,170.

“It looked like a good race for him on paper but he still had to get out there and get the job done,” Stewart said.

“Once he got to the front he was always going to be hard to run down.

“I haven’t got anything set out for him at this stage and will have a look to see what’s around.”