Deja vu moment for premier trainer

PREMIER horsewoman Emma Stewart has experienced a case of deja vu.

Making the trek to Harold Park in May 2008, Stewart captured the Australian Pacing Gold Final with Keppel Bay.

Among the outsiders, Keppel Bay broke her maiden at her seventh start.

Fast forward to tonight’s Tabcorp Park Melton program and Stewart has done it again.

Securing another APG Final, Stewart’s success came via Staroftheshow, which notched his first win at his 12th outing!

“He certainly picked a good time to break his maiden,” Stewart said. “He’s a handy horse, which has been busting to win, but hasn’t had the conditions suit.

“Him winning his first race in an APG Final does bring back memories of Keppel Bay.

“She was a quality mare and is also the dam of Jilliby Jitterbug which won the APG Final in 2015.”

As for Staroftheshow, he was driven to perfection by Kate Gath, who settled him at the tail of the field from his second row draw.

Gaining a three-wide trial along the back straight, the son of Vincent sprinted to a metre-and-a-half win from his stablemate, Gawn.

Defending champion Mister Hunter was seven metres away third in 1:53.6 over 1720 metres.

“He got the ideal run tonight and showed what he is capable of when things go his way,” Stewart said.

“He’ll probably have a short break now before we get him ready for the next round of features in a few months.”