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Veuve chases Champagne fairytale

24th Apr 2014

Racing Victoria - by Daniel Miles - Thursday, 24 April 2014

Veuvelicious is more than just a talented horse to trainer Brent Stanley

Veuvelicious is a horse that will forever be dear to emerging trainer Brent Stanley.

And not only because she provided the Caulfield Cup-winning jockey with his maiden Black Type success as a trainer in last Saturday’s Listed Fernhill Handicap at Randwick.

Or that she will become his first Group 1 runner when she contests the $400,000 Champagne Stakes at the same track this Saturday.

The untapped daughter of Northern Meteor, who also provided Stanley with his maiden Saturday city winner when she won at Sportingbet Park (Sandown) last month, means much more to Stanley and his family than most would realise.

After purchasing Veuvelicious at last year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Stanley donated a 10 percent share and a year’s worth of training fees to a Cocktail benefit he helped organise with his wife Paris, which aimed to raise enough funds to support his sister-in-law, Danielle Millard, who was fighting an aggressive form of cancer at the time.

“That’s the best part of this horse, that we were able to give away 10 percent of her to help fundraising for my sister-in-law,” Stanley said.

“When we bought this horse, she was going through her treatment and to help raise money to fund her treatment we auctioned a share of her at a fundraising night.

“The money raised went straight towards helping her treatment.”

It was Millard who named Veuvelicious, a catchphrase she shared with friends when indulging in a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

“Whenever she used to have any Veuve, I remember she used to say, ‘that’s Veuvelicious’,” Stanley said.

“It’ll be quite an emotional occasion should she get across the line in front.

“Sure, It’d be satisfying for me to be able to win with her with a good mate like Damien (Oliver, jockey), but it’d be very emotional and touching experience for my family more than anything.”

Millard lost her brave fight with cancer last June, and is survived by her husband Blake and two children, Hunter and Summer. Her memory is set to endure with Veuvelicious, with Blake having been offered a part in the auctioned share in Veuvelicious, following his wife’s passing.

“It was really touching that the guys who were in Veuvelicious, have since given her husband Blake a share with them,” Stanley said.

“Having my brother-in-law involved in this horse, it would be a very, very touching thing if she did win.

“All the family will be there on Saturday. There wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house.”

Veuvelicious will start from barrier five in the Champagne Stakes (1600m), which has attracted a field of 10 including fellow Victorian, the David Hayes-trained Zululand (seven), plus the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes quinella of Peggy Jean (10) and Scratch Me Lucky (four).

The other Group 1 on the card is the $400,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m), in which Victoria also has two runners – Danny O’Brien’s Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress (two) and Robert Smerdon-trained filly Politeness (one), who is also engaged in Adelaide.

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner and T.J. Smith runner-up Rebel Dane (10), Galaxy winner Tiger Tees three), Doncaster Mile placegetter Weary (11) and Black Caviar Lightning champion Snitzerland (eight) head their list of rivals.