Mick Stanley is back “home” with 15 of his best horses chasing a string of feature Victorian races over the next two months.
Stanley made his mark in the sport in Victoria but started a gradual move from Burrumbeet near Ballarat to the Menangle training complex just over 12 months ago.
It’s been an inspired move with the stable enjoying a huge 12 months.
Much of it kick-started with last November’s Vicbred series at Melton when Stanley had a win (Soho Trump), a second (Soho Americano) and two thirds (Soho Park Avenue and Coastal Drive) across the four pacing finals.
The Vicbred series has moved forward this year and starts with the heats for the three-year-old pacers (colts and geldings, along with fillies) on Thursday night.
“It was a terrific series for us last year and we’re back to give it another crack with some of the horses from last year and some new ‘babies’ (two-year-olds) as well,” Stanley said.
“It’s great to have our Victorian farm (Burrumbeet) just sitting there ready to go and be able to move in with 15 horses like we have this week.
“It’ll be an extended stay here because after the Vicbred we’ve got the Victoria Derby and Oaks as well. I’ll move between here (Burrumbeet) and Sydney because we’ve still got 10 in work up there, too.”
Stanley has six runners in the Vicbred heats at Kilmore and will have another five in the two-year-old heats at Melton on Friday night.
Last year’s 2YO colts and geldings champion Soho Trump and the exciting Soho Charmer, who only ran 11th in that two-year-old final, are his big guns at Kilmore.
“Soho Trump was a real find for us last year, but when we went back to Sydney and he was still a colt, he got almost out of control and was difficult to train,” Stanley said. “We got him gelded and it seems to have made all the difference. He’s so much more relaxed. They say it’s the ultimate gear change.
“Soho Charmer never seems to draw well and he’s out the back again (gate 11), but he’s got so much ability. I think he’ll get through and be a big factor.
“He could be a TAB Eureka horse. Rob (Watson) owner has a Eureka slot and is keen to use it on one of his own horses for the first time this year. I’d say it would be Charmer or Trump. This series will tell us more.
“Our others at Kilmore are (Soho) Park Avenue, who is back to his best at the right time, (Soho) Piastri who has a lot of ability, but is still big and raw, while (Soho) Washington is a nice horse, but not up to the best ones. Enola will be competitive against the fillies, too.”
At Melton on Friday, Stanley declared Soho Bellagio his top seed in the colts and geldings and Soho Aster the best of his fillies.
“I’ve also brought down Sao Paolo Simba, Coastal Drive and Soho Americano for the (Vicbred) 4YO series, but those heats aren’t until September 10,” Stanley said.
“I’ve got a big opinion of Sao Paolo Simba. He’s top shelf and could be a Eureka horse, too.”
