SUTTON Grange trainer Brent Stanley is eyeing off a start in the $5 million All Star Mile after Violate’s stunning win in the Group 3 $160,000 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
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With the final three of four wildcards in to the world’s richest mile race to be announced on Monday morning, the Stanley-trained five-year-old emerged as a serious contender for inclusion in the 14-horse field with his 1400m success against a quality field, which included a pair of horses already guaranteed a start in the race in Grunt and Man of His Word.
Stanley, who finds himself in the midst of a hot streak with six winners from his last 15 starts, is adamant in his belief Violate is worthy of an All-Star Mile start.
"I reckon he should get a wildcard into that race The All-Star (Mile) in two weeks," Stanley said.
"I've been training him hoping he would get enough votes to get in because he'll be peaking in two weeks.
"He'll just get better off that run. He showed how tough he was. He had the toughest run in the race three-wide, no cover but he was first to put the pedal down and sort them out.
"This is his second prep gelded and you'll see a very consistent race horse now."
Violate ($9) sat three-wide for much of the 1400m trip, but was able to hold-off a gallant Streets of Avalon with Zebulon third.
For the combination of Stanley and jockey Michael Walker, the gelding’s win made amends for a third place finish in the same race last year.
“I got too far back on him this race last year … I actually trialled against him (Violate) at Bendigo the other day and he whizzed right past me,” Walker said.
“Brent has just got his team going superbly at the moment and placed right.
“He has his horses fit and when they are ready to go they are ready to go. I have been having a lot of luck with them.”
The win was Violate’s fourth in 31 career starts and second at Flemington over 1400m following his victory in a Listed race last September.
It gave Stanley a perfect three wins from his last three starts following successes with Snipes at Bendigo last Tuesday and Lucky Fish at Morphettville last Saturday.
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