Champion trainer Emma Stewart declares Ladies In Red her “best filly” ever

Superstar filly Ladies In Red went to another level at Melton on Saturday night, chalking up a dominant victory after doing it tough out throughout.

Ladies In Red, driven by David Moran, wins the Australasian Breeders Crown three-year-old fillies’ final. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Champion trainer Emma Stewart’s “best filly” ever is the latest pacer to transcend the sport’s passionate following.

Ladies In Red, who obliterated her rivals in the $200,000 three-year-old fillies’ final at Melton on Saturday night, made it 14 wins from 17 starts and in doing so captured back-to-back Breeders Crowns.

“She’s the best filly we’ve ever had,” Stewart’s partner Clayton Tonkin said.

“Not many can do what she has done. She’s amazing.”

And if the raw emotion from Tonkin didn’t sum it up, racecaller Dan Mielicki, the voice of Victorian harness racing, declared Ladies In Red “possibly the most popular horse we’ve had since Courage Under Fire”.

CHEER, CHEER - SHE IS A SUPERSTAR!
Ladies In Red phenomenal in winning a star-studded Villawood Properties final for 3YO pacing fillies for Emma Stewart.
A Group 1 to remember! pic.twitter.com/VJSrttjr1X

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) November 20, 2021

Ladies In Red had to do it the tough way to capture the Group 1, leading up the three-wide line with no cover during the last lap before careering to a 5.3m win in an electric mile rate of 1:53.1 for reinsman David Moran.

“She’s an absolute star … and the times were just off the chart,” Tonkin said.

“When you see them win their big races like that it means a lot.”

Earlier, Peter and Kerryn Manning won the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings final with raging favourite Plymouth Chubb.

The Great Western father-daughter team, the pairing behind legendary trotter Knight Pistol in the ’90s, were jubilant with Peter somewhat lost for words, acknowledging the win was “special”.

Reigning metropolitan driver of the year Kate Gath had another red-letter night with three Breeders Crown successes aboard Just A Bit Touchy, Catch A Wave and Encipher, while Stewart claimed four Group 1s and a Group 2 with Honolua Bay.

Originally published as Champion trainer Emma Stewart declares Ladies In Red her “best filly” ever