NO STRANGER to establishing history, Victorian horsewoman Emma Stewart will begin her latest attempt at re-writing the records books again on Saturday night.
Stewart’s resume is already crammed with ‘firsts’ such as becoming the first female trainer to register 200 wins in a season, first female trainer to land five wins at a Melton meeting, first female to prepare five winners on a Victorian program and being the first female to win the Victorian and Metropolitan Trainers’ Premierships.
Stewart also holds the national record for the most Group One triumphs by a female trainer, shares the Australian record for the most wins at a meeting and owns the status for having trained the most winners at a Victorian metropolitan meeting.
As for her pending shot at history, Stewart will kick-start the quest in The Allwood heats at Globe Derby.
Stewart has a runner in each qualifier as they pair of youngsters aim for a berth in next week’s $100,000 Final.
The Sales-based series is in its third year, with Stewart winning the first two editions with Pandering and Treachery.
Should Stewart complete the trifecta in the upcoming Final, she will become the first trainer to win the initial three editions of a Group One for two-year-olds.
“It’s been a pretty good series for us during the past couple of years,” Stewart said. “We’ve had a pretty high rate of success with the heat and Finals.
“Hopefully that can continue to be the case during the next two Saturday nights.”
Set to make his debut, Smart Man has drawn barrier three in the first heat, with his stablemate, Encipher – also a debutante – to come from four in the following qualifier.
The pair will be driven by Victorian reinsman Allan McDonough.
“They both go along quite well,” Stewart said. “They have reasonable draws, so they get their chance.”
