Mr Individual has scored an emotional win at Caulfield for his co-trainers Leon and Troy Corstens.
Part-owner John Donegan, a long-time stable supporter, died on Friday night before Mr Individual won Saturday’s TAB Supports Jockeys Trust Handicap.
“It’s a bit emotional, without a doubt,” Leon Corstens said.
Mr Individual
“He was in numerous horses with us. Commanding Jewel, Vezelay, Zabeelionaire were some.
“He was a lovely old chap.”
Backed from $4 to run the $3.20 favourite, Mr Individual scored by 1-1/4 lengths from Downhearted ($18), with Divine Mr Artie ($7) a head away third.
Mr Individual returned from a trip to Queensland where he had two starts, finishing fourth in the Sunshine Coast Guineas earlier in July.
The three-year-old, a son of Starspangledbanner, has been troubled by a soft-palate issue and Corstens said the stable was unsure whether the problem required an operation.
“When they relax it doesn’t pop up and the horses are all right,” Corstens said.
“It’s only when they get a bit excited that the soft palate stops their breathing.”
Mr Individual relaxed perfectly for apprentice Ben Thompson on Saturday, tracking the lead set by Devils Pinch.
Corstens hopes to tackle some of the Group One handicaps during the spring with Mr Individual.
“If he keeps racing the way he did today, I’d say definitely we’d look at those sort of races.”
