Trainer-driver Michael Stanley.
HE’s closing in on 1000 driving wins in his career and Michael Stanley has found a happy home since settling at Menangle.
The former Victorian felt the time was right to make the move north to chase the bigger prizemoney races.
And while experienced pair Rocknroll Doo and Ubetcha Tigerpie were the two tried-and-tested performers in his team, the 44-year-old decided it was his younger horses that wereready to make an impact at our No 1 track.
“Most of the team we brought up were three and two-year-olds,” said Stanley.
“Since then we’ve picked up a few more, like The Answer, which has improved the team.”
Stanley landed a winning double last weekend with Sao Paulo Simba and The Answer and heads to Menangle tonight with prospects of another double.
Apart from his two stable runners, Fear The Pain (Race 4) and Coastal Drive (Race 5), Stanley has also picked up the drive on another Victorian who made the move to New South Wales, trainer Anton Golino.
A master of the square-gaiters, Golino has four runners in tonight’s feature, the $30,600 Menangle Park Trotters Cup (Race 3).
Stanley will partner Sheetweb Weaver for Golino while Luke McCarthy drives Rakero Blaze, Brad Hewitt is on Toro Stride and Bailey McDonough pilots Impact Stride.
Poised on 979 wins Stanley is more focused on winning feature races and adding to his eight Group 1 successes.
“Milestones are always great,” he said.
“They’re not something I strive for but rather plan the business model around trying to win the bigger races.
“I’m not counting it down but when it happens it will be a great achievement.”
Stanley is excited about the prospects of Sao Paulo Simba:
“I said a while ago he was my next open-class horse.
“He’s still not matured and is a bit gangly and awkward, but we drove him conservatively early-on to teach him some ringcraft.
“Getting close to the Victoria Derby heats, we began to wind him up.
“Last week he was a hit more tradesmanlike although there’s still that bit of goofiness.
“But when Cam [Hart] and Itzbuddha got to my wheel, he kicked into gear and won well.
“The Vic Derby will be his next target and the 2700m Derby should suit him perfectly.
“I think he still has stacks of improvement in him.
“He is quite tall but still hasn’t filled out properly and has some maturing to do.”
