Stanley is the man to man to follow

FORMER Victorian Michael Stanley has been the man to man to follow at Tabcorp Park Menangle this week.

And his fabulous form since making Menangle his permanent harness racing base is set to continue on Saturday night at the No.1 track.

Stanley’s week to remember began when one of his stable’s leading lights Ubetcha Tigerpie (Betting Line) ran a close and unlucky fourth to Cya Art in last weekend’s $150,000 TAB Len Smith Mile.

The six-year-old was beaten just over a metre in a driving finish and it took a stunning 1:47.5 mile to beat him.

Stanley then came out at Menangle on Monday and landed four winners in the eight races, three from his own stable and one (Fonda Rhonda) for his father Ian.

And the one that had everyone talking was the amazing performance by three-year-old gelding Sao Paulo Simba, who raced without cover for the entire journey and broke champion pacer Leap To Fame’s Australasian record for a three-year-old pacer, covering the mile in a slashing 1:48.9 to beat Lieutenant Arden and Onyx Shard, clearing out to win by more than 21m.

Even that overshadowed the return to form of his stable favourite Rock N Roll Doo, who scored his first win for almost two years when he took out the final race of the day with an all-the-way win.

Stanley heads back to Menangle this Saturday night with the $30,600 Sutton McMillan Free-For-All in the sights of Ubetcha Tigerpie.

“It was nice to notch a few wins up on Monday, it was a fantastic day,” said Stanley.

“And it was great to get Rock N Roll Doo back a winner too and get him back to his best.

“Without winning this horse has been running well in those Saturday night races.”

Stanley is now keen on his prospects with ‘Tigerpie’.

“He was fantastic coming from last on Saturday night and I knew he’d run a cracker,” he said.

“I think he’s only had one poor race since coming here and even when he’s been beaten he’s usually run the fastest closing sectionals.

“He should love tonight’s distance and looks well-graded.”

Stanley feels his best chance tonight could be in Race 8 when he drives The Answer.

“I think she’s my best drive.

“I love this mare and I only acquired her since we moved here and her work has been fantastic.

“She drops back to mares’ grade and on her work should be really hard to beat.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court for Harness Racing New South Wales