Time flies and twelve months is a long time for a thoroughbred to be up and going but that is how long Zou Sensation has been in work with the gelding yet to show Troy Corstens that it is time for a break.
A combination of moving between city and country has agreed with the six-year-old and if the strength of recent form stands up, he is right in contention for the Listed Kensington Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Wednesday.
Zou Sensation has had at least one run a month since May and in those 10 outings a win in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) in August is among them.
It is the last start fourth placing in the $1 million Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham won by Warnie that has Corstens especially upbeat about his continued good form.
“It was a really good race, The Supernova, and if you said it was a group one race you’d nearly agree with that, “Corstens said.
“Ben Allen is not back (from leave) so Jamie Melham will ride.”
Zou Sensation’s preparation effectively started in late 2024 in readiness for the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) last January.
The Corstens’ farm property near Geelong has played a major part in the son of Zoustar’s toughness and longevity along with their training centre at Flemington.
“The thing with him is that now that we’ve got the farm, he goes up there for four or five days after each race where he works in the morning and goes out in the paddock for the day,” Corstens added.
“If I wasn’t happy with him after the four or five days I’d give him a break, but he came back bouncing.
“It is just something that really suits him and he’s been up for a year now but he has been looking for an excuse to tip him out.”The majority of horses enjoy it – even the revy fillies. I wish I had done this ten years ago.
“I reckon we get another three or four extra runs out of them which allows our owners to get more bang for their buck.”
Zou Sensation is rated the $5 second elect for the Kensington Stakes with the Symon Wilde-trained Persian Spirit the $1.95 favourite.
The long preparation could continue.
“If he shows me he needs a spell then we will but if he keeps going well then we don’t need to send him out just because we think we should,” Corstens said.
