Mig Energy (Image: Racing Photos)
Brent Stanley's spring stocks were given a boost at The Valley on Saturday when well-bred gelding Mig Energy made a winning start to his career in the Essendon Mitsubishi Handicap (1000m).
The son of Redoute's Choice, a $350,000 purchase at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, will now be aimed at the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) after comfortably accounting for several well-credentialed rivals including John Price's All In Brawl and Stakes-placed Sanglier.
While jockey Luke Currie was surprised with the gelding's ability to sprint quickly after racing amongst more experienced horses, Stanley said Mig Energy had filled him with confidence after several head-turning jumpout performances.
"Luke does a lot of riding for me but he hadn't been on this bloke's back and it (the win) didn't surprise me," Stanley said.
"He is a pretty smart horse.
"He was first-up over the 1000m and I actually said to Luke that if it was 1200m I thought he'd be a moral.
"I didn't hide him from anyone, I put his trial up on Facebook this morning where he won by three lengths last week."
WATCH: Mig Energy's win
Like Mig Energy, Stanley will be plotting a path to the Caulfield Guineas for unbeaten I Am Invincible colt The August, who is scheduled to step out at Monday's set of official trials at Cranbourne.
Also set to trial is a filly that the Sutton Grange horseman believes could be even better than her male counterparts.
Casadiva, a $1.15 million yearling purchase, turned heads with an impressive debut in February and Stanley has no doubt she's improved into her three-year-old season, where she'll chase the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
"He's (Mig Energy) got to keep on improving but I think 1400m to a mile will be his ideal distance so if he's going to make the grade this is the time of year to be in," he said.
"We'll probably steer towards that (Caulfield Guineas), we've got horses like him and The August going towards that, so fingers crossed they can keep improving.
"The August trials on Monday and probably the best horse in the stable, Casadiva, will also trial on Monday and she goes towards the Thousand Guineas."