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It was the seven-year-old’s first victory since he saluted in the Vicbred Super Series semi-final in June 2019, a dry spell that broke in emphatic fashion with the capture of the Trots Country Cup.
“It’s not the biggest race we’ve won, but definitely the most satisfying to get him back in the winners’ stall,” Stanley told TrotsVision.
It’s been a challenging road for Stanley and his dad Ian to rehabilitate Rackemup Tigerpie, a son of Rock N Roll Heaven, who appeared to have the world at his feet when second in a star-studded 2019 Ballarat Cup, which followed three wins on the trot.
Rackemup Tigerpie would go on to qualify for the Chariots Of Fire final and then win the aforementioned Vicbred Super Series heat, but, while he had plenty of bold moments it was soon clear something was amiss.
Stanley said it was initially thought hard runs as a four-year-old had “got the better of him”, but then “we discovered bad ulcers in his stomach”.
He told TrotsVision after yesterday’s win Rackemup Tigerpie’s resurgence was a “huge credit to Dad because when he lost his way … he just lost his zest for racing”.
“We couldn’t work out why. Dad’s the one, with the ulcers, this is the last thing we had checked. The vets did a great job and picked it up. It was fairly intensive treatment for a while, Dad treated him up, got him healthy, jogged him back up and gave him a couple of runs.
“The last run he gave him at Melton I said I think he’s nearly ready for you to drop him off at home again.”
He has since runs two third placings, an eighth in the Bendigo Cup and then Sunday’s Hamilton Cup win, when Stanley took advantage of Batman Barry’s woes at the gate to slide from gate nine to the back of leader Kimble.
Come the final straight of the 2160-metre Cup Rackemup Tigerpie had plenty in the tank, winning by three metres ahead of Highway To Heaven and Kimble.
“With the mistake of (Batman Barry) early we were able to jump in behind the leader and take advantage of the softer run,” Stanley said. “It worked out really well.”
And it has Stanley again thinking of even greater glories, including nominating Rackemup Tigerpie for Saturday night’s deep Ballarat Cup.
“I’d love to win a home-town Cup. I know that he’s probably going to be outclassed, but I think even at Bendigo he showed that he’s not out of place in those races again,” Stanley said.
“Even off the slow speed here, the turn of foot that he showed, he showed a lot of zest to put them away quite quickly when he got the gap. I think he’s form warrants sneaking into that 10th or 11th place and having another crack. That would be unreal if that could happen.”
Yesterday’s racing also proved a drought-breaker in the Alexandra House Hamilton Trotters Cup.
Kyvalley Finn found the front and, while plenty around him made mistakes, Chris Svanosio’s seven-year-old put his best foot forward to clear away and win handsomely.
The Skyvalley gelding enjoyed a superb 2019 season and then preceded to win the 2020 Ararat Cup, but it’s since been a lean spell.
He had gone 23 starts without a win before yesterday’s Cup breakthrough, scoring in his first start in reinsman Jason Lee’s hands.
