Grey Power
August 22nd 2010 11:48
Veteran performer Stanzout continued his impressive, and continually improving form of this campaign, when he emerged as an emphatic winner of the $100,000 Australasian Flooring Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday. His previous two starts had yielded a 4th in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100 metres) at Caulfield behind Reward For Effort; followed by a closing 2nd to star performer Shoot Out in the Group 2 Bletchingly Stakes (1200 metres) at Caulfield.
Two grey horses and two jockeys named Craig. Craig Williams sits pretty and cuddles Stanzout as he cruises up to pacemaker Morgan Dollar who is being tested by his jockey Craig Newitt.
(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography
Stanzout has now won three races (from 10 starts) in 2010 - these wins coming after a drought of nearly three years when he would fail to win a race after being successful in the 2007 Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200 metres) at Flemington.
Since that time (patient) trainer Colin Davies has battled to get his talented grey gelding over a litany of serious and minor health issues. The worst of these problems undoubtedly the lung infection and polyps of the windpipe which were noted after his Gilgai victory. Thereafter followed a torn hip muscle, and a broken wither.
In 2007 Stanzout was one of the nation’s better performed sprinters with his Gilgai win soon followed by a 3rd in the Group 1 Age Classic at Flemington (1200 metres) behind champion mares Miss Andretti and Gold Edition. His lung condition still unresolved at the time he campaigned valiantly on into 2008 with a 3rd in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000 metres) at Flemington behind the Champion Apache Cat - followed by another 2nd to Apache Cat in the Group 1 Australia Stakes (1200 metres) at Moonee Valley.
In his 40 start career Stanzout had never before Saturday won at the 1000 metre trip. His resurgence as a now healthy and happy 8 year old adding further proof to the longevity of the racehorse - in light of recent wins by the 13 year old Mustard and 10 year old Riceman - winners well into the veteran stage if kept happy and healthy.
Colin Davies entered Stanzout in the sprint event on Saturday as a fact-finding mission to discover whether Stanzout would handle the tricky Moonee Valley circuit again after having two failures there in recent times when not quite back to peak health and fitness. His win on Saturday giving Davies the confidence to push forward with his plan to have Stanzout contest the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on September the 24th.
Perfectly handled by jockey Craig Williams, Stanzout stalked the speed set by fellow grey gelding Morgan Dollar and quickly reeled in the pacemaker to come away for a comfortable 1.3 length victory on the slow rated track. Morgan Dollar himself is twice a second placegetter at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 McEwan Stakes behind Kaphero (2008) and Nicconi (2009). This in addition to his 4th placing (beaten less than a length) in the 2009 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100 metres).
Stanzout ranges up to Morgan Dollar
(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography
Stanzout has now won three races (from 10 starts) in 2010 - these wins coming after a drought of nearly three years when he would fail to win a race after being successful in the 2007 Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200 metres) at Flemington.
Since that time (patient) trainer Colin Davies has battled to get his talented grey gelding over a litany of serious and minor health issues. The worst of these problems undoubtedly the lung infection and polyps of the windpipe which were noted after his Gilgai victory. Thereafter followed a torn hip muscle, and a broken wither.
At the 200 Morgan Dollar leads from Stanzout with Keano (3rd) giving chase
In 2007 Stanzout was one of the nation’s better performed sprinters with his Gilgai win soon followed by a 3rd in the Group 1 Age Classic at Flemington (1200 metres) behind champion mares Miss Andretti and Gold Edition. His lung condition still unresolved at the time he campaigned valiantly on into 2008 with a 3rd in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000 metres) at Flemington behind the Champion Apache Cat - followed by another 2nd to Apache Cat in the Group 1 Australia Stakes (1200 metres) at Moonee Valley.
In his 40 start career Stanzout had never before Saturday won at the 1000 metre trip. His resurgence as a now healthy and happy 8 year old adding further proof to the longevity of the racehorse - in light of recent wins by the 13 year old Mustard and 10 year old Riceman - winners well into the veteran stage if kept happy and healthy.
Colin Davies entered Stanzout in the sprint event on Saturday as a fact-finding mission to discover whether Stanzout would handle the tricky Moonee Valley circuit again after having two failures there in recent times when not quite back to peak health and fitness. His win on Saturday giving Davies the confidence to push forward with his plan to have Stanzout contest the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on September the 24th.
Perfectly handled by jockey Craig Williams, Stanzout stalked the speed set by fellow grey gelding Morgan Dollar and quickly reeled in the pacemaker to come away for a comfortable 1.3 length victory on the slow rated track. Morgan Dollar himself is twice a second placegetter at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 McEwan Stakes behind Kaphero (2008) and Nicconi (2009). This in addition to his 4th placing (beaten less than a length) in the 2009 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100 metres).
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