Undefeated stablemates face toughest test

UNDEFEATED stablemates Ladies In Red and Cover Of Darkness will face their toughest tests at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday.

Prepared by premier trainer Emma Stewart, the youngsters are set to contest Australasian Breeders’ Crown Finals.

Ladies In Red and Cover Of Darkness are two of 18 representatives Stewart and her partner Clayton Tonkin have in six Group Ones Finals after dominating last weekend’s semi-finals.

With runners in seven of the eight qualifiers, Stewart and Tonkin won six, including a clean of the two-year-old divisions.

The power couple also have runners in a pair of Group Two Four-Year-Old Championships.

“It’s going to be a busy night, but hopefully a successful one for our owners,” Stewart said.

“As I’ve said before, everyone dreams of having runners in majors such as this and we hope to get some good results for each owner.”

The only unbeaten competitors on the card, Ladies In Red and Cover Of Darkness will need to produce some stellar performances to protect their perfect records.

Winner of her six starts, Ladies In Red has drawn to follow her stablemate and favourite, Tough Tilly, from her second row draw.

TAB Fixed Odds have Tough Tilly at $1.70 from barrier, with Ladies In Red at $2.50 from gate two – the are the only two under double figures.

“After she won her semi I referred to Ladies In Red as a special filly, but I also noted the draw can be a great equaliser,” Stewart said. “She’ll need to put a super run to win from there.”

Boasting five wins, Cover Of Darkness has drawn to lead from barrier two in what is a major rise in class for the son of Majestic Son.

In an open race, Cover Of Darkness is the $2.60 favourite followed by Powderkeg at $4.60, Gimondi at $5 and Elite Stride on $7.

“This will be his toughest test but we have no doubt he is up to it,” Stewart said.