Is she the new measuring stick?
PROMINENT horseman Michael Stanley admits he never thought the day would come when he compared a filly to Petacular.
Among the best of her crop during the 2016 and '17 seasons, Petacular won 19 of her 26 starts, with six seconds and a third also to her credit.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere captured a pair of Group Ones for a bankroll of $454,083 before her life was cut short at the end of her three-year-old season.
"She was a super filly, which had an air about her...that aura of quality," Stanley said. "She is the measuring stick for every other horse which has entered the stable since."
Following last night's Melton meeting, however, Stanley came to the realisation Petacular, at the very least, has an equal.
Triumphant in the Victoria Oaks, Soho Americano garnished huge praise from Stanley.
"She is more unassuming than Petacular in that she doesn't have a way about her, but she's certainly proving her worth on the track," Stanley said. "For all her class Petacular couldn't win an Oaks, now Americano has two.
"Plus Americano still has the Sires' and Breeders' Crown to go before the end of the season, so her record could improve a lot more.
"I don't want to go as far as saying Americano is better than Petacular cause it is bloody hard to compare, but she's got to be considered as good."
With Luke McCarthy in the cart, Soho Americano was caught wide from her second row draw before being sent forward to find the lead as early frontrunner, Soap And Bubbles, was eased to take a trail.
Forced to dig deep along the home straight, the daughter of American Ideal staved off a determined Beach Diamond to score by a neck.
Soap And Bubbles battled on to be four-and-a-half metres away third in 1:56.6 over 2760 metres.
"The draw was always going to make it tricky, but Luke figured that out," Stanley said. "It got close at the finish, but she held on, which is what counts.
"She's been up for a while, so I'll give her a few days off and a light week now before we get going for the Vicbred next month."
