3 minute read

Michael Stanley’s pet project has brought great joy to his Burrumbeet stable when the trainer-driver’s stellar two-year-old, Petacular, lived up to her top billing.

The Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series victory in the two-year-old fillies final rewarded Stanley’s resilience, having invested in a training facility, overcome an untimely horrific injury and come out the other side a Group 1 winner.

“It’s a great thrill, that’s my first Vicbred winner, probably my first proper Group 1 as a trainer,” Stanley said. “She’s a tough filly and had to do it the tough way, but she just showed her versatility and was the best one on the night.”

Petacular, a filly by Somebeachsomewhere out of Ideal Priority, lobbed one-out three-back at the start, on the back of his main threat Perfect Sense, who Gavin Lang improved to the lead.

Stanley moved Petacular into the breeze at the bell and from there it was a match-race. Leading into the final bend Emma Stewart-trained Perfect Sense kicked away, with Stanley taking leader’s back.

“The other horse (Perfect Sense) gave me something to chase that’s for sure,” Stanley said. “It had us off the bit at the top of the straight, (Petacular) just showed how gutsy she is.”

With 50m to go Petacular regained the lead and took the honours by 2.4m, with Stanley’s other runner Soho Angel running into an outstanding 2.3m third.

“When it came to the crunch, when I came off the back again, she really wanted to dig deep and find the line,” Stanley said. “I can’t say enough about her. From the first time that we got her and fast worked her she has done everything right from day one.”

The victory brought up a rare double for Ballarat breeder Bruce Edward, who produced both the victor but also bred and owns second-placed Perfect Sense.

Certainly one group who believes it owns Edward a great debt is the PETstock Racing Syndicate, according to part-owner David Young.

“Bruce Edward from Ballarat is a really good customer (of PETstock) and a great supporter of the Ballarat club,” Young said. “We went out to his property, he had a few to choose from and he pointed us in the right direction and said this (Petacular) is probably the best bred.

“The syndicate’s all made up of work colleagues from PETstock, obviously that’s where the name Petacular comes from. It’s awesome, we are all good friends and it has been a great joy the syndicate. Mike’s done an excellent job with the horse in such a short period of time, so it is nice to get one who has the ability to win a race like this.”