A feature-race double at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night wasn’t the only good news for superstar harness racing trainer Emma Stewart this weekend.
Stewart prepared Rocknroll Magic to bolt away with the $30,610 Harness Breeders Victoria Gold Chalice, while Jadahson came from a seemingly impossible spot to win the strongest pacing race of the night.
Rocknroll Magic looks every inch an Oaks filly, with Stewart to give her a let up after Saturday night’s group two win with the classics in mind.
But the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven has another summer goal and that is getting in foal — kind of.
“Some of her owners are breeders so they are keen for an embryo transfer foal from her,” explains Stewart.
“They have already tried a couple of times but had no luck but we will try again soon.
“She she will have an easy time now and then come back for the Oaks races.”
Saturday’s double came as the stable’s Inter Dominion rep Philadelphia Man still recovers from the series, where he was disappointing in the final and found to be sore after.
But his trainer is confident he will be back to his best soon.
“We will have the vet to him this week to have a good look over him but I don’t think there is anything seriously wrong,” says Stewart.
“He has back problems and I think they flared up over there (in Perth) but I am pretty sure he will get over those and we can aim him at the Cups here.”
That will mean the Ballarat Cup on January 23, followed by the Victoria and Hunter Cups in the following weekends, that treble meaning Philadelphia Man will almost certainly not be asked to go to the Miracle Mile carnival in Sydney.
And really putting a smile on Stewart’s face is the return to the stable of last season’s Miracle Mile placegetter Guaranteed.
The magnificent pacer has been jogging at a rehab facility since recovering from stem cell surgery and has returned looking sound.
“He looks great but we don’t know exactly where he is fitness-wise because we haven’t put the hopples on him yet.
“Because of that the Cups here and even the Miracle Mile will probably come too soon so we will just get him back to fitness and the work out a programme for him.
“But it is great to have him back.”
by Michael Guerin
Harness Racing Victoria