Stanbridge enjoying stint as Mishani head trainer

By Glenn Davis

When former trainer and the King of QTIS, Les Ross, handed in his stopwatch two years ago, his replacement Donna Stanbridge had some pretty big shoes to fill.

Ross trained for many years for the “Mishani Man”, colourful owner Mike Crooks, before quitting in 2024 to undergo prostate surgery following a cancer scare.

Crooks handed the training duties to Stanbridge who had been working for him for four years at his training farm at Gleneagle, just outside Beaudesert.

Fast forward to now and Stanbridge has done a sterling job since stepping into Ross’ shoes.

A mother of three, Beaudesert-based Stanbridge is currently striking at almost 10 per cent this season with 22 wins from 223 starters.

“I had a bit of a dry spell and didn’t train a winner from January until to May then I started to get a few winners in the last couple of months,” Stanbridge said.

“When I took over from Les, it was a bit difficult to suddenly train a lot of horses and I’ve now got around 30 in work.

“I’ve got three kids and never stop. When I’m not with the horses I’m taking the kids to motocross.” 

Stanbridge went to Goondiwindi in July, 2024 to train her first winner, Mishani Persuasion, before notching up her maiden city win with Mishani Lily at Doomben in September that year.

Stanbridge, who has now trained three city winners, was only 16 when she worked for Lindsay Park in South Australia which was then under the helm of the late Peter Hayes.

Fast forward to now and Stanbridge will head to Dalby on Thursday hoping to improve her strike rate.

She will saddle the Crooks-owned Mishani Aztec in the 0-55 Handicap over 1000 metres and Express Star in the 1000-metre Maiden Plate.

Express Star is the only horse in the stable not owned by Crooks.

“I bought him for $600 at an online auction for myself and it was my first and only offer,” she said.

“He was being trained down Canberra way but hadn’t raced and was beaten 20 lengths in a trial but I just liked the look of him.

“I put in a bid for $600 thinking someone would better it but no-one did and it cost me another $1,500 to land him here.

“But he’s more than paid his way as he’s won more than $13,000.”

Express Star has placed in four of his six starts and is coming off a last start third to the Jack Bruce-trained Highgrove Rose in a 1600-metre maiden at the Sunshine Coast in December.

“He’s had a jump out at the Gold Coast and he should be competitive but I fear they might be a bit too sharp for him first-up,” Stanbridge said.

“This is only 1000 metres and he needs 1200 to 1400 metres.”