Poised to dominate another set of Finals

AFTER completing a clean sweep of the heats, record-breaking trainer Emma Stewart is set to dominate another collection of Finals.

Stewart is no stranger to winning each qualifier within a series, having achieved the feat numerous times during the Vicbred Super Series and Breeders' Crown, while last month the Victorian horsewoman was triumphant in the three New South Wales Derby heats at Club Menangle.

In October 2024 Stewart not only captured each Victoria Derby heat, her team filled the trifectas!

As for her latest performance, Stewart won all seven Nutrien Classic Sales heats in Melton to set the scene for Friday night's deciders at the same venue.

For good measure, Stewart also notched five quinellas in the heats.

"It was a great day for the stable," Stewart said. "I couldn't have been happier with the results, especially for our owners.

"Hopefully we can continue the good run in the Finals."

Stewart will begin her assault with a trio in the Three-Year-Old Fillies' Final.

Second behind her stablemate Ivseenheavenslight in their heat, Ill Be Gone has fared best in barrier three.

Ivseenheavenslight will begin from gate nine, with the unbeaten Beach Diamond to come from 12.

"They're all very nice fillies," Stewart said. "It will come down to which gets the right run."

Stewart will then be represented by Apollostorm, Storms Collide, The Highlight Reel and Cigano in the colts' and geldings' division.

The first two were runner-up behind the latter pair during the heats.

"Again, they are all quality three-year-olds in their own right," Stewart said. "It wouldn't be a surprise to see any of them win."

Despite drawing barriers six and seven, Frolicnearthesea and Willows Girl are vying for favouritism in the Two-Year-Old Fillies' Final.

The stablemates are at $3 and $4, with New South Wales raider, Conciliate, splitting the pair at $3.50 from the pole.

Brooklyn Dan, Treacherous Dan, Letsstartinheaven, Cardigan Dan and Knight Fury Dan will then battle for supremacy in the Final for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Heats winners Cardigan Dan and Knight Fury Dan will begin from the back row along with Letsstartinheaven, which was runner-up behind the former.

"The two-year-olds are pretty much in the same boat as the three-year-olds, with each capable of winning on the night," Stewart said.

"We've got a mixed bag of draws, with some of the more fancied runners on the back row, which brings some on the front into it."