1Petacular hasn’t put a foot wrong all season and is consequently at the top of the market for Saturday night’s Group 1 Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series two-year-old fillies’ pacing final.

The Michael Stanley-trained daughter of Somebeachsomewhere/Ideal Priority overpowered Our Celebrity and Perfect Sense to win her semi-final at Melton last Saturday night from barrier 12.

In this Saturday night’s $115,000 final Petacular has drawn barrier nine and Stanley will pilot the rising starlet.

“Her form all season has been outstanding,” Stanley said.

“Since we’ve stepped her up to 2200m she’s really thrived.”

Petacular has won five races from seven starts and never finished out of the top three.  She ran third in the Australian Pacing Gold Final at Menangle when she covered ground in the run, with Stanley stablemate Soho Angel finishing on powerfully to run fourth in that race.

Soho Angel (Bettors Delight/Soho Champagne) also qualified for this Saturday night’s final courtesy of a fast-finishing second in the semi-final last weekend from barrier 12.

“Soho Angel was a big run. I probably had to pull four-wide a bit too early at the 400m. If I could have waited I’m sure she could have won.”

West Australian whiz Gary Hall Jr will drive Soho Angel for Stanley and owner Rob Watson.

Stanley’s chances of winning the three-year-old colts and geldings’ Vicbred final improved markedly at the barrier draw with Sportswriter/Striking Spirit gelding Spiritwriter snaring pole.

The impressive pacer was unlucky in his semi-final when held up in the straight to finish 5.5m behind Iceenothink and Dont Hold Back.

“He’s just improved the whole way along,” Stanley said.

“He’s really strengthened and taken the next step this campaign.”

Stanley spoke of Spiritwriter’s versatility. We’ve seen him swoop home with a blistering last quarter to win during the International All Star Series at Melton, and narrowly pipped by Senor Macray when leading at Ballarat.

“It’ll take a pretty good one to beat him (in three-year-old males’ final).”

And punters take note Stanley also made special mention of a 50-1 shot in Soho Tokyo, who will start in the four-year-old mares’ final.

“She’s been an outstanding horse for me and was the one that put me in the big races a couple of years ago. She’s a really tough horse,” he said.

Stanley will also put the polish on Ideal Lifestyle and Alessa in the three-year-old fillies’ final.

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