Stewart stable snares cup
The mighty Cardigan district barn of Emma Stewart and her partner Clayton Tonkin added a sixth Horsham cup to the mantelpiece on Sunday afternoon.
They collected their prize when Our Millionaire led from go to whoa in the prestigious $60,000 Group Two The Weekly Advertiser 2022 Horsham Pacing Cup.
Driver Mark Pitt made the most of gate two and Our Millionaire’s early toe to immediately find the pegs when the green light was activated.
From that point he dictated the tempo perfectly through the first lap and a bit of the contest – steady enough to allow plenty of early forward moves, but at a beat that none would want to seriously challenge for the front.
With the mid-race section clocked in 62 seconds, the combo obviously still had plenty in reserve for the business-end of the 2700-metre contest and splits to the post of 28 and 27.2 set the opposition an impossible task in the tough conditions.
Our Millionaire strolled home, with stablemate Phoenix Prince – Jodie Quinlan – six metres astern and another of the Stewart-tonkin runners, Demon Delight – Jackie Barker – a further two metres back in third place for a history-making stable trifecta in Horsham’s feature event. A lightly raced six-yearold stallion, Our Millionaire took his record to 14 wins from 33 starts and a bank of $163,500 for owners Rod Sharp, Pat Cariss, Darren Bell, Lindon Harris, Mark Fedoruk, Alberto Lievski and Mark, Terry and Andrew Power.
Stewart’s other Horsham Pacing Cups came courtesy of Safari in 2006, Philadelphia Man, 2015, Major Secret, 2017, Shadow Sax, 2018, and Mach Dan, 2021.
Bondi beauty
When NSW harness officials announced that impressive four-year-old entire Bondi Lockdown landed one of two wild cards in the $1-million Miracle Mile at Menangle, Horsham owner, trainer and driver Aaron Dunn realised the dream of all who have ever been involved in the harness game – to have a starter in Australasia’s most revered race.
Bondi Lockdown had pinned his name on top of the board for consideration in the legendary race with a slashing second to Bettor Eclipse in the $250,000 Group One Chariots Of Fire.
But given the history of those in charge of field selection, a start was never guaranteed until stamped.
It will be a nervous week for Dunn, his family friends and supporters, from Monday’s all-important barrier draw to Thursday afternoon when Bondi heads to the retention barn and then through until Saturday night when they parade under the stars and lights.
We’ll all have fingers and toes firmly crossed for a week of smooth sailing for ‘Dunny’ and Bondi until they take their place behind the mobile for the start. From there, it’s hoping for no bad luck in the run and who knows?
Bondi Lockdown – 28 starts, 13 wins, nine minors and $329,520 and a dare to dream.