LIFE in the fast lane is about to get even more hectic emerging Aussie training force Mick Stanley.
By Adam Hamilton
Fresh from winning Saturday night’s $328,000 Group 1 Australian Gold final in Sydney with regally-bred juvenile filly Soho Nolita, Stanley’s schedule is about to get even more hectic
As well as Soho Nolita, Stanley has a string of major races planned for his other stable stars Soho Tribeca and Soho Burning Love.
And New Zealand will be part of it, but not as soon as Stanley expected.
Plans to tackle May 15 NZ Oaks with Soho Burning Love have been shelved with the focus now on sorting a flight to get to Perth for Friday night’s $150,000 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park.
“We’d love to have gone to NZ, but would’ve needed the Harness Jewels invite to guarantee us two cracks at big races and we’re not going to get that ahead of Shez All Rock,” he said.
“So the WA Oaks is worth the same money and if Rob (Watson, owner) can sort the flights, she’ll run there on Friday.”
Soho Burning Love had to be content with another minor placing behind the brilliant, Kiwi-bound Shez All Rock when a late-closing third in the Victoria Oaks last Friday night. It’s the fourth time in as many meetings she has chased Shez All Rock home.
Soho Nolita, who did all the work and sparkled in a 1min53sec mile to win the Gold final, will be freshened ahead of the Vicbred series then finish the season with the Breeders Crown.
“She’s special. I told you at Hunter Cup time and probably put some pressure on myself, but she’s lived up to it,” Stanley said.
“That was a heck of a win when you consider the work she did early. I had to go for it when I finally got outside the leader (Miss Halfpenny). I’d done so much, I didn’t think I could win sitting parked, so I went on with it and took the front.
“I got a bit of a breather (29.5sec) down the side (800-400m) and that was the key. She finished it off well and won easily.”
Soho Nolita continues the amazing streak of her dam, Pixel Perfect, who is also the mother of Soho Tribeca and recent Group 1 Ladyship Mile winner Carlas Pixel.
Speaking of Soho Tribeca, he has been back in work for almost three weeks and is being set for a showdown with My Field Marshal and others in the Len Smith Mile at Menangle late next month.
“He’s about 5-6 weeks away from a run. So he’ll have one lead-up into the Len Smith then head to Brisbane for the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake,” Stanley said.
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