How many Australian records does Stewart hold?

NO STRANGER to establishing history, premier horsewoman Emma Stewart has done it again.

By capturing a Nutrien Final at Club Menangle last night Stewart became the first Australian trainer to win 100 Group Ones.

Stewart secured the Alabar Farms-sponsored feature with First Responder which was driven by treat by Mark Pitt.

The son of Art Major enjoyed the run of the race behind his stablemate and leader Major Celebrity before sprinting to a four-and-a-half metre win from the fast-finishing Dangerous.

Unbeaten from his three previous starts, Major Celebrity battled on to be a half-head away third.

Rating 1:57.7 over 2300 metres, First Responder took his record to two wins and a second from four starts.

From grand producing broodmare Smyrna Duruisseau, the two-year-old is a brother to 2014 Australian Pacing Gold champion, Follow The Stars.

As for Stewart’s milestone, it’s not the first time the Victorian horsewoman has set a national record.

Earlier this year Stewart won nine races in Launceston to break the Australian mantle of eight she co-held with Shayne Cramp.

Amazingly, Stewart is the only trainer to appear on the “Most wins at a meeting list” at every level – ie, eight wins, seven, six, five and so on!

During the 2017/18 season Stewart became the first Aussie trainer to register a triple century, winning an unheralded 309 races.

Stewart also boasts the record for most wins at a metropolitan meeting.

Stewart won eight races at Tabcorp Park Melton on June 29, 2018 to break a 77-year-old stance.

Her haul that night includes six seconds and two thirds.

Before Stewart’s octet, she was one of eight ‘quintet trainers’, with T Butterworth the first to achieve the feat at Ascot on May 26, 1941.

Then there is Stewart’s claim as being the only female trainer to win Victoria’s State and Metropolitan Trainer’s Premierships.

“I was made aware of the fact I was getting close to 100 Group Ones a couple of months ago but I had no idea until then,” Stewart said.

“It’s one of those things you never think about until it gets close, then the countdown is on.

“It is wonderful to know that milestone is there, but tonight it about our owners who are enjoying winning the Final.”

For the record, Stewart’s maiden Group One victory came thanks to Manwarra Hatrick winning the 2007 Vicbred Super Series Four-Year-Old Mares’ Final at Moonee Valley.

“Manwarra Hatrick got it all started and will always be a special mare to me,” Stewart said.