Trainer Colin Davies says Stanzout is going just as well leading into Saturday’s Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield as he was last year when runner-up to the talented Shoot Out.
The rising nine-year-old grey was beaten less than three-quarters of a length when fourth to Reward For Effort in the 2010 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield before going down by a half-length to Shoot Out in the Bletchingly.
This time around he again ran fourth in the Monash, beaten just over three lengths by Secret Flyer.
“I was very pleased with that effort. I took the blinkers off him last start and he got a little bit lost early but his last 200-metre sectional was the second fastest in the race,” Davies said.
“He really found the line strongly and I’m looking forward to him getting back over 1200 metres again.
“I’ve put the blinkers back on him to make him a little bit keener to see if he can settle a little bit closer.
“He finishes his races off strongly and I’d like to see him not too far away.”
Dwayne Dunn will ride Stanzout for the first time on Saturday and the gelding has drawn well in barrier two in the 10-horse field.
Davies said Stanzout had to do it tough in last year’s Bletchingly and was a bit unlucky to strike the likes of Shoot Out.
Stanzout won over 1000m at Moonee Valley at his next start but hasn’t scored in a dozen outings since, although he has run three seconds, a third and three fourths.
“I’ve been very pleased with his campaign,” Davies said.
“He’s very fit and has done well and if it happens to be wet he’ll be a bit tougher than the others.
“He’s been competitive in just about every race he’s been in this year. The only problem is that when he goes into the lower grades he has to give away too much weight.
Davies pointed out that Stanzout had to give Bletchingly rival Uxorious a 3.5kg weight advantage when runner-up to him in the Listed Wangoom Hcp (1200m) at Warrnambool on May 4.
But the pair meet on equal terms under the weight-for-age conditions in Saturday’s Group Three feature.
The Peter Moody-trained Mid Summer Music, after her sixth win of the season and her first black-type victory, is the well-supported favourite, being backed from $3.60 to $2.80 with TAB Sportsbet.
Secret Flyer is steady at $6 with Second Effort drifting from $4.80 to $7.
Rue Maple is at $8.50 with Gold Trail and Uxorious both at $9 while Stanzout is at $17.
AAP TURF
