Oliver Dan makes it two on end as Herbertson and Stewart on fire.

Smart pacer Oliver Dan (Bettors Delight) followed up on his Melton success a fortnight back with a polished front running display to take out the Breeders Crown Open Free For All at Melbourne headquarters on Saturday evening.

Oliver Dan who was well supported showed brilliant early speed to take up the running ahead of stablemate Fox Dan who started a warm favourite and was resuming following his runner up effort in the Mildura Cup Final in April.

James Herbertson on Oliver Dan was able to dictate his own terms getting an easy run. My Ultimate Barney had no luck early in having to race outside the leader while Fox Dan was content to take the trail behind the leader.

It was clear a long way from home that Oliver Dan and Fox Dan would fight out the finish but the question was whether Fox Dan could outsprint his stablemate. But with the benefit of race fitness Oliver Dan bounded clear on straightening and although Fox Dan tried hard Oliver Dan had a bit too much to win by just over a metre with rank outsider Ultimate Vinnie finishing third.

OLIVER DAN 6 JUNE REPLAY

Oliver Dan looks to have found form at the right time and he is going to be part of trainer Emma Stewart’s large team for Brisbane where he will compete in the Inter Dominion Series at Albion Park in July.

Fox Dan who won last year’s Victoria Derby is also Brisbane bound where he will take his place in the Group 1 Rising Sun where he will meet the nation’s top mare Captains Mistress and New Zealand star Marketplace and he’ll be better for last night’s performance.

James Herbertson reflected after the event.

He just comes out to get the right trip. Last week as I said he was just having bad luck and not getting the right trip. He’s got the right trip two weeks in a row and it proves he’s going well and truly good. I think he’s going to Queensland that’s been the word. He’s going into it in a good place he should hold his own up there that’s for sure.

I’ve never led on him so I wasn’t too sure. I wasn’t really too sure how he would be on the front end if he would swell up and pick up and take off when it was time to  but he did. So the 26 seconds home was pretty sharp. Danny Zavitanos (the owner) has been a great supporter of me for quite a while now.

It’s very fortunate to sit behind his horses. They’re lovely horses and when they’re going to the races you’ve got plenty of power to play with. I’m in a good spot.

For both Herbertson and Emma Stewart it was a highly successful. Both notched up four winners. Earlier on Herbertson has scored with Hoorah Philtra (Betterthancheddar) and outsider Wallis (Used To Me). Then in the final event he combined again with Stewart to win with Dynamite Dan (Somebeachsomewhere).

In addition to Oliver Dan and Dynamite Dan, Stewart was successful with the highly successful The Art of Success (Art Major) and then with I Am The Storm (The Storm Inside).

Stewart’s stable is on fire at present after a somewhat slow start to the season and they are readying themselves for an assault on the forthcoming Queensland carnival.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink