EMERGING young Aussie trainer Mick Stanley has an itch which needs scratching.
Stanley trains Australia’s best three-year-old filly Petacular, who boasts 10 wins from just 15 starts.
Two of her defeats have been inflicted by Kiwi star Partyon and, both times, that filly has drawn better than Petacular.
That itch is the urge, bordering on necessity, to get another crack at Partyon.
“I don’t feel like we’ve met her on truly level terms as yet,” he said. “We’ve drawn 13 and 14 in our two clashes.
“Partyon is very, very good, but I think Petacular is something special, too. I’ve been lucky enough to train some nice horses, but she’s the best I’ve had … and clearly.”
That’s why Stanley has paid-up for Petacular for the NZ Oaks and is chasing the Aussie invite to the Harness Jewels.
“It’s a lot more likely than not that I’ll take her across,” an upbeat Stanley said.
“The timing is perfect. She doesn’t have to miss anything at home.
“If I didn’t go to NZ then I’d look at the WA Oaks, but the trips to Perth and NZ are similar and in NZ there are two big races I can have a crack at.”
Petacular next major target is the Victoria Oaks which has heats on March 31 before the final a week later.
“With the NZ Oaks on May 19, it means I’ve got time to freshen her after the Victoria Oaks and get across to NZ early to settle her in and maybe even trial there before we race,” he said.
“If we go for the Oaks and the Jewels, there is still more than two weeks after the Jewels before she has to be back home to run in a heat of our (Vicbred) Sires Stakes.”
Adam Hamilton