Troy Corstens excited ahead of Kobayashi return

Troy Corstens can see some similarities between Starspangledbanner and emerging talent Kobayashi who will be out to emulate the former star galloper in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield.

Corstens, who trains in partnership with his father Leon, has Kobayashi heading to Saturday’s Group Three 1100m-sprint at Caulfield for his first start since winning the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes at the same track in late April.

Leon Corstens trained sprinter-miler Starspangledbanner during his Australian career which included a win in the 2009 Vain Stakes on his way to claiming the Group One Caulfield Guineas later that spring.

While Kobayashi still has a way to go to emulate the feats of Starspangledbanner, who won twice at Group One level in England for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Troy Corstens sees similar traits in the two.

“They look like they are really hard-going horses but they can find a little bit under pressure,” Corstens said.

“He’s actually a similar horse to Starspangledbanner.”

Corstens said they were still trying to determine whether to aim Kobayashi at the Caulfield Guineas over 1600m or the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200m at Flemington later in the spring.

“He’s a really good type and I can’t wait to see him back at the races on Saturday,” he said.

“It’s a really nice kick-off race for him. Hopefully he’s either a Caulfield Guineas horse or a Coolmore Stud Stakes horse.

“One or the other would be fantastic on the resume.”

While Kobayashi has not raced since putting back-to-back Caulfield wins together in April, the colt remained in the stable.

“He’s retained his summer coat and looks fantastic,” Corstens said.

“I basically left him in work and just ticked him over. He was trotting and cantering, and going on the treadmill, and basically just had a freshen.”

The 20 nominations for the Vain Stakes also include unbeaten colts Jukebox and King’s Authority, while Peter Morgan has entered VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Sircconi.