New Mishani partnership scores first city win with Mishani Lily at Doomben
Proud mum of three Donna Stanbridge was almost lost for words after landing her first city winner as the new trainer of the Mishani operation.
The new Mishani era has dawned in Queensland with Donna Stanbridge landing her first metropolitan winner at Doomben on Saturday thanks to a tearaway performance from Mishani Lily.
Standbridge took over from renowned Mishani man Les Ross at the start of the new season and has a top filly on her hands after her wire-to-wire performance on Saturday in an impressive return to racing.
Mishani boss Mike Crooks was thrilled for his new trainer, saying he has big plans for Mishani Lily, who could be campaigned south of the border after carrying a big weight under 3kg-claiming apprentice Cody “Chip” Collis on Saturday.
Stanbridge is a proud mum of three and was almost lost for words after landing her first city winner.
• ‘Excitement, nerves’: New Mishani trainer to hit ground running
“I’m just a mum of three who got the opportunity of a lifetime to train all these amazing horses,” Standbridge said.
“There was a lot of pressure, so I am thankful she won, there were a lot of nerves as well.”
Mishani Lily was just way too good for them at Doomben today!@rajah9879@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/A9xbFoc94h
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 7, 2024
Crooks was full of praise for Standbridge, who has worked her way through the ranks under Ross, who quit training following a recent cancer scare.
Stanbridge cut her teeth working at Lindsay Park for the late, great Peter Hayes and Crooks believes she has a big future in the industry.
“She has been with us five years,” Crooks said.
“She went and had a family, came back and started doing some trackwork then as things unfolded, she was foreman for Les for two years.
“Her and I get along like a house on fire, I can sit down and talk to her, we have a chat every day about what we need to do.
“She is a great bird, and really organised, she is great with the staff, better than what I could ever do.
“You couldn’t wish for a nicer girl, we get on really good.”
Mishani Lily has emerged as one of the most promising horses Crooks has had and says she has been a labour of love after overcoming a trackwork incident earlier in the year which saw her suffer bad cuts.
“I had a few trainers come up to me today saying this horse might be a bit big, I said well if you saw her work on Tuesday morning, you might have a different opinion,” Crooks said of the odds-on favourite.
“We need to work the tracks at home out a bit, Les always finished them off here in town.
“We have done everything with this horse at home, it is good to have her back because she is really happy horse.”
Originally published as New Mishani partnership scores first city win with Mishani Lily at Doomben
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