Trots Centre: Mick 'mare' than happy with his talent-laden night

Mick Stanley tonight takes the reins of two modestly raced, highly talented mares who appear on the cusp of transitioning to the top level.

Fremarkspoetry and Iolanta have collectively placed in 27 of their 32 starts to date, including 15 wins, and will tonight be hoping to add to that register when they step out at Tabcorp Park Melton.

First is the Courtney Slater-trained trotter, Fremarkspoetry, who will be chasing a ninth win from just the five-year-old Majestic Son mare’s 13^th start in her Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Metropolitan Trot heat, her first start since December 23.

“She’s a top class metropolitan trotter and already a Group 1 winner, so we know that she’s got the talent,” says Stanley, whose won four of six when steering Fremarkspoetry.

“Courtney and Mark (Driscoll) have had a lot of trouble with injury through her career, so that’s why she probably has a good three or four runs and then she goes missing for three or four months.

“I think they’d rather just go in short-term and look after her and make sure she can get a bit of longevity out of her racing career.”

Stanley believes she’s well-placed to defend her 75 per cent winning strike rate tonight, having drawn favourably in gate two with lead rivals Imsettogo and Peregrine Phoenix on her outside and Hatchback directly behind her.

“She trialled really well at Terang last week and had a good blowout,” Stanley said. “She’s got a nice draw and if she brings her A game she can roll to the front and I’m sure she will give them something to chase.

“She’ll need to be at her best first up, I’m sure that there will be plenty of improvement in her. Her best is as good as any in that race.”

The odds will be longer but he’s hopeful of a similarly impressive performance in the Nutrien Equine Pace, which he’ll attack with his consistent four-year-old mare Iolanta.

“She ran really good sectionals first-up for nearly a month off the track (at Melton on May 8),” Stanley said.

“She’s only a young mare, she’s just turned four, she’s competed at the highest level as a youngster. (Owner) Brendan (James) and I really think she’s got the makings to step up to the open Group 1 mares races in the future.”

Tonight their biggest hurdle looms as Nathan Purdon’s Spellbound, who has two wins from as many starts since jumping the Tasman.

“Yes, Spellbound’s been impressive since coming over from New Zealand, albeit I think this is her biggest test this week,” Stanley said.

 “I think there’s a lot more depth in this race than what she’s met in the first two. She’ll get a good test and it will be exciting to see if Iolanta can step up and beat her.”

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