Soho Burning Love To Contest WA Oaks
30 April, 2018
Harness
Michael Stanley says he is confident Soho Burning Love can back up and upset the local brigade in the $150,000 Group 1 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park on Friday.
The Victorian trainer-reinsman said he heads west with confidence after Soho Burning Love ran a fast-finishing third in the Group 1 Victoria Oaks at Melton on April 27.
“We wouldn’t come if we didn’t think we could win obviously and that’s what we are going for,” Stanley said on Tabradio’s The Sports Daily.
“She is a really versatile filly and I don’t really think Gloucester Park will pose any worries for her.
“There are three or four really good fillies over there and if they get good draws they are going to be hard to beat.
“But that is the case in any Group 1 and we have a filly who we think is going to be really competitive.
“Especially being in Rob’s (Watson) home town we are going to have a crack and the 2600m is definitely a plus.”
Soho Burning Love had to settle for another minor placing behind Shez All Rock in the Victoria Oaks, the fourth time in as many meetings she has chased the Mark Pitt-trained filly home.
Raced by prominent Perth owner, Rob Watson, Soho Burning Love has collected six wins and nine placings from her 22 starts for $110, 070 in prize money.
Stanley shelved plans to target next month’s New Zealand Oaks with Soho Burning Love after he secured a flight to get to Perth for the WA Oaks.
The Burrumbeet-based horseman will land in Perth with a full head of steam after taking out the Group 1 Australian Pacing Gold final with exciting filly, Soho Nolita, at Menangle last Saturday.
“She was awesome and has a load of ability,” Stanley said.
“I’m sure in the future she will really be able to go on with the job.
“We’ve been excited about her for a long time and to come out and win a race like that justifies what you have been thinking.”
Julio Santarelli