Strong showing after slow beginning

AFTER a moderate start to tonight’s Tabcorp Park Melton meeting, premier trainer Emma Stewart is beginning to assert her dominance.

Stewart has 30 runners engaged in the Breeders’ Crown semi-finals, including a host of favourites.

During the first two semis – for two-year-old colts and geldings – Stewart only managed a third from four starters, with Beach Villa finishing seventh as a $1.50 hot shot.

Stewart’s squad quickly bounced back to capture the next four semis, including a clean sweep of the three-year-old colts’ and geldings’ qualifiers.

Stewart’s victories were complimented by a stable trifecta and quinella!

Recent Victoria Derby winner Act Now got the ball rolling when he led throughout in 1:55.5 over 2240 metres, with his time nine-tenths of a second slower than his stablemate Major Mopth in the following semi.

Petillante was too good in the first semi for two-year-old fillies, while Beach Music stretched her record to nine wins and six placings from 17 starts by securing a three-year-old fillies qualifier.

“After the first couple of races I thought it was going to be one of those nights where nothing seems to go right,” Stewart said.

“Thankfully we have been able to turn it around and can hopefully finish off the card strongly.”