Veteran sprinter Stanzout resumes at Caulfield on Saturday in a preparation ultimately aimed at The Goodwood, and trainer Colin Davies is happy with the way he has come back.
The eight-year-old is topweight with 59.5kg in the Sportingbet Hcp (1000m) and will be ridden by Noel Callow.
The grey, the winner of nine races from 44 starts for $730,132 in prizemoney, hasn’t raced since finishing last in a field of six to superstar sprinter Black Caviar in the Group Two Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day last October.
“He’s come back problem-free and trialled well the other day,” Davies said of his second to Miss Octopussy over 800m at Cranbourne last Monday week.
“The 1000 metres may be a bit short for him but there is plenty of speed in the race which should bring him into it.
“Originally I was looking at taking him to Sydney for the TJ Smith but when I found out it was on Black Caviar’s program I decided to look elsewhere.
“I didn’t want him to take her on again.
“Depending on how he performs he can either go to Adelaide for The Goodwood or we can have another crack at the Wangoom at Warrnambool.”
Stanzout won the Listed Wangoom (1200m) on a heavy track under 57kg last May beating Bocuse and I’m A Hussy.
This year’s Wangoom is run on May 4, four days before the Group One The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
A Group Two Gilgai Stakes (1200m) winner and placed at Group One level three times, Stanzout’s last win was over 1000m, his only win in six tries at that trip, five starts back at Moonee Valley when he beat Morgan Dollar and Keano in August last year.
Callow, who has spent four of the past five years based in Asia where he has ridden with considerable success, has two rides at Caulfield.
He will also partner the Mick Kent-trained Red Buttons in the Thoroughbred Club Cup (1800m).
The Red Ransom six-year-old has won four of his last seven starts and has been freshened since finishing ninth to Fast Future in the Launceston Cup (2400m) on February 23.
Ten days prior to that the Moe and Kyneton Cups winner was fourth to Bid Spotter in the Hobart Cup (2200m).
AAP TURF
