By Tim O\u2019Connor<\/p>\n
The flying Pat Stanley continued his rise to top-line star under the care of Kerryn Manning with a blistering victory at Tabcorp Park Melton.
\nAt just his fifth run for the Great Western-based horsewoman, the son of Western Ideal added the IRT Australia Markovina Free For All (2240m) to his recent South Australian Pacing Cup success with a dominant 14m triumph in Saturday night\u2019s feature.
\nThe win, in a mile rate of 1:55.2, continued a great run of form since joining Manning\u2019s yard and plans are now in place for a likely tilt at the Group 2 City of Melton Plate in a fortnight\u2019s time.
\n\u201cHe should measure up, hopefully, in some of the better races,\u201d Manning said.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s headed to America eventually. He\u2019s owned by Ron (Buker) over there but he\u2019s won back his $50,000 that he paid for him and he\u2019s earning more now.
\n\u201cHe said we\u2019d leave him here while we are going well\u2026\u201d
\nPat Stanley was bred and raced in the early part of his career in New Zealand and then spent a couple of years with Blake Fitzpatrick in New South Wales before being sent to Victoria.
\n\u201cWhen they bought him I hadn\u2019t really heard of him,\u201d Manning said.
\n\u201cI watched a few of his replays and he looked to go really good without having a lot of luck up there, but (was) always running on really good.\u201d
\nManning said Pat Stanley\u2019s win in the South Australian Pacing Cup in early February, when severely pressured in the lead, proved he had the strength as well as the speed he had shown previously. This performance was followed by an eye-catching second behind Code Bailey in the Terang Pacing Cup prior to Saturday night\u2019s success.
\nPat Stanley has now had 45 career starts for 14 wins and more than $140,000 in prizemoney.
\nChampion reinsman Chris Alford produced a winning treble at Melton, scoring in the Allied Express Pace (1200m, 4YO+) with David Aiken-trained Pirate Bay, winning the Benstud Standardbreds Trot (2240m, 4YO+ NR 75-100) with Andy Gath\u2019s Miss Blissful and then the Empire Stallions Claiming Pace (1720m) with Emma Stewart\u2019s Freddy Funk.
\nFreddy Funk\u2019s triumph capped a perfect night for Stewart, which prepared three runners at Melton for three wins. Also successful was debutant Ideal Dan, which took out the Breckon Farms Sapling Stakes (1720m, 2YO colts and geldings) and Ideal Conquest, which won the TAB Multiplier Pace (2240m, mares NR 70-89).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Tim O\u2019Connor The flying Pat Stanley continued his rise to top-line star under the care of Kerryn Manning with a blistering victory at Tabcorp Park Melton. At just his fifth run for the Great Western-based horsewoman, the son of Western Ideal added the IRT Australia Markovina Free For All (2240m) to his recent South […]<\/p>\n