Harness racing: Emma Stewart out to add to Chariots Of Fire arsenal

The powerful Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable could have half the field in her bid for a third Chariots Of Fire success.

Kingman can give Emma Stewart another runner in the Chariots Of Fire with a win in the Group 3 Paleface Adios Sprint on Saturday night. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Champion trainer Emma Stewart could have half the field in Australia’s biggest four-year-old feature.

Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin are already well placed with three confirmed Chariots Of Fire runners – Miki To Success, Bay Of Biscay and War Dan Buddy – and will unleash another three contenders at Menangle on Saturday night.

The powerhouse stable will be chasing its third Chariots Of Fire win after Guaranteed won in 2014 and Poster Boy saluted in 2019.

“It’s a race we’ve really targeted with having such a strong batch of four-year-olds in the team,” Stewart said.

“There’s not a lot between our best ones, it really comes down to which one draws the best. It’s great to have three of them through already and we’ve got the chance to add another couple this week, hopefully.”

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Ten runners will tackle the $200,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on Saturday week.

The winner has traditionally been a key player in the $1m Miracle Mile a week later.

It will be a surprise if Stewart and Tonkin don’t qualify another two on Saturday night.

Kingman looks best of their Paleface Adios runners from gate one in the last of the Chariots qualifying races, the Group 3 Paleface Adios Sprint (1609m).

Stewart also has Stormryder (gate five) and Some American (six).

Kingman was the hardluck story of last week’s Hondo Grattan where Stewart landed the quinella with Bay Of Biscay and War Dan Buddy.

He drew wide and driver Ashleigh Delosa tried to make a three-wide run around the field, but was trapped deep and had to drag back to last before making late ground for seventh in a scorching 1min 49.8sec mile.

Superstar driver Luke McCarthy, who partnered with Stewart to win the 2023 TAB Eureka with Encipher, returns from suspension to drive Kingman on Saturday night and should be able to use his early speed to lead from the pole.

Significantly, Kingman ran a huge second to stablemate Miki To Success, beating home Bay Of Biscay and War Dan Buddy, in the Group 2 4YO Bonanza at his previous run.

Some American will also contest the Paleface Adios Sprint. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Stormryder, to be driven by Bailey McDonough, ran fifth in the Bonanza and also finished just ahead of Bay Of Biscay.

Some American is a watch runner, having won last season’s Breeders Crown 3YO final along with seconds in the Victoria Derby and Vicbred finals.

He will be improved by a first-up sixth from an awful draw at Cranbourne last Saturday week as has young gun Cam Hart aboard.

Stewart and Tonkin’s strong hand in the Chariots points towards a potential dominance of the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1m TAB Eureka – for three and four-year-olds – at Menangle on September 6.

Along with their army of star four-year-old colts and geldings, the stable also has Australia’s top four-year-old mare Very Pretty and most exciting three-year-old Always Hot.

Always Hot made it six wins from as many starts when he won the Simpson Sprint at Menangle last Saturday week. He now heads to the Group 1 NSW Derby on March 8.

“We’re hoping to have a few in the Derby as well,” Stewart said. “The Highlight Reel, Cigano, Silver Pistol, Storms Collide and I Am Storm will all go up for the (Derby) heats next week (at Menangle).”

Stewart and Tonkin have the first six in early TAB Eureka markets with Bay Of Biscay, who finished second as a three-year-old last year, Best Deal and Very Pretty sharing favouritism at $4.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp

Originally published as Harness racing: Emma Stewart out to add to Chariots Of Fire arsenal