Stanley sets sights on TAB Eureka
MENANGLE trainer Mick Stanley thinks he has at least three genuine contenders for the world’s richest pacing race, the $1.5 million TAB Eureka at Menangle on November 21.
The next couple of months will tell a lot more as the former Victorian border hops between his old and new stomping ground.
All three of Stanley’s Eureka contenders – Sao Paolo Simba, Soho Charmer and Soho Trump – are part of a star-studded 15-horse team the trainer has taken to Victoria to target a string of major races between now and November.
“It’s great to have my farm (at Burrumbeet, just near Ballarat) sitting there and ready to take a team to, like I did earlier this week,” he said.
“Moving to Menangle is the best thing I’ve done and results show that, but to still have the farm back home when there are major races like this in Victoria is terrific.”
The rich Vicbred series is the first target.
Stanley had six runners, including Soho Charmer and Soho Trump, in the heats of the three-year-old Vicbred series at Kilmore last night (Thursday).
Five more, headed by the exciting Soho Bellagio and Soho Aster, will contest heats of the two-year-old series at Melton tonight.
Rounding out a busy few days, Stanley has key runners in the first two races – Coastal Drive (race one) and Lennith (race two) - at Menangle tomorrow (Saturday) night.
“It’s a busy time and I’ll be moving between Victoria and Menangle. I’ve got 15 in Victoria, but still 10 in work at Menangle,” he said.
Stanley, who has been based in NSW almost a year, hopes to have the same sort of impact he had in last year’s Vicbred finals where landed a win (Soho Trump), a second (Soho Americano), and two thirds (Coastal Drive and Soho Park Avenue).
“Some of the stars of last year are back, like Soho Trump, but I’ve got some nice new babies for the two-year-old heats this year,” he said.
“I really like Soho Bellagio in the colts and geldings heats (tonight). He went super time and won by a big space at his only run,” he said.
“Then there’s Soho Aster, who is the pick of my fillies. She ran second to Birdsong in the (Bathurst) Gold Tiara.”
After his Menangle run this week, Coastal Drive will join Sao Paulo Simba and Soho Americano in Victoria for the Vicbred four-year-old series, which starts with heats on September 10.
“Forget Sao Paulo Simba’s last run, he pulled with a minor issue but seems right back to his best now. He’s top shelf and headed towards the Eureka after his Victorian trip,” he said.
Stanley said his major owner Rob Watson, who “won” last year’s TAB Eureka when he teamed with the Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay, was keen to run one of his “Soho” horses in his slot this year.
“He’s gone outside horses all three years so far, but I think he’ll go with Soho Charmer and Soho Trump would be the other option this year,” Stanley said.
“I know they’re both three and a three-year-old hasn’t won it yet, but they did run second and third last year and get those preferential draws, which are so important.”
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick
