The Puppet, Chris Alford, is not in town at Melton tomorrow night but The Puppeteer sure will be.
Ellas Puppeteer, who set chins wagging and people scouring the record books with a 1-52.8 win at Charlton last time out, will line up in the Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Country Series C Final.
It is Race 10 at 10.40pm but punters will want to stay up late to see what eventuates.
Ellas Puppeteer has had four starts for two wins and two seconds, the four-year-old gelding winning his last two with ease – his most recent win in track record time at Charlton.
At his most recent triumph Ellas Puppeteer was parked outside leader Iceobar throughout before pulling clear for a mighty win by 12.4 metres, Stanley expertly pulling the strings.
“It’s interesting because everyone has said that to me,” the reinsman said when asked about driving the gelding along coming around the home turn last time out.
“On the track though, in the race it always felt like I had the leader covered.”
Ellas Puppeteer is superbly bred, by top sire Shadow Play out of Smiley Ella, who the Stanleys raced for two wins from five starts.
Smiley Ella won a Vicbred Super Series heat at two defeating Glenferrie Inn by 6.6 metres in 2-01.5 but bowed a tendon and only raced twice more after a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
Smiley Ella’s dam, Exotic Strike, was also trained by the Stanley stable and won $171,945 in stakes – including victory in the rich Australian Pacing Gold Final at Moonee Valley in 2000.
Ellas Puppeteer is also a half-brother to Arms Of Ink, who won two from two last year before also injuring a leg. His scans are all clear now and he’ll return to the track soon.
As for Ellas Puppeteer he’s a C1, but not for long.
“We think he can measure up (to the top-class four-year-olds). To be honest, the horse has got that much improvement in him,” Stanley said.
“Once he develops a bit of gate speed he’ll be a lot better. He’s learning how to race more every time.”
Drawing eight behind likely pacemaker Iceobar from the pole is not ideal, Stanley freely admits.
“It’s a hard one,” he said. “Dad and I were talking about it last night and he’s of the view that you take the luck out of it and come off the fence. I think Iceobar would probably hold the lead …
“But at the end of the day the horse (Ellas Puppeteer) has a long future and will win better races than this.”
>> Check out Ellas Puppeteer’s record-breaking win at Charlton
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