Loucasso after winning the 2025 Protostar
CHAMPION Victoria trainer Emma Stewart has three strong chances to add to her fantastic record in the short but exciting history of Australasia’s richest juvenile race.
Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin had two runners in the inaugural $500,000 Group 1 Benstud Protostar in 2024 with The Highlight Reel beaten a whisker by Fate Awaits and Cigano an eye-catching fourth.
Redemption came last year when the brilliant Loucasso led throughout for the stable, while stablemates Cardigan Dan (seventh) and Dynamitedan (10th) also contested the race.
Stewart and Tonkin return to defend their crown with three of the 10 runners – Comeandsee, Cardigan Jem and Kahula – at Albion Park tomorrow night.
Such is their dominance in juvenile racing, they will have had eight of a possible 30 runners across the three years of the Protostar.
Just for good measure the Stewart/Tonkin trio drew the inside the best barriers in one (Cardigan Jem), two (Comeandsee) and three (Kahula).
After a fascinating driver juggle, Stewart and Tonkin have landed on Cam Hart (Cardigan Jem), Mark Pitt (Comeandsee) and James Herbertson (Kahula).
The stable connection runs even deeper with Stewart and Tonkin’s stable foreman, Allan McDonough, who trains a few horses in his own right, having the unbeaten filly Ideal Frankie in the Protostar from gate six.
Comeandsee is the $3.20 favourite with Cardigan Jem ($6 into $4.20), Kahula ($11) and Ideal Frankie ($17).
Outside of them, Luke McCarthy's Don Hunter has been best-backed, firming from $7 after the draw to $4.80.
The best local hope is Havtimemajor for Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen at $5.
PHOTO: Dan Costello
