Colin Davies-trained grey Stanzout was a vision in the mounting yard, right, before Sunday’s Apache Cat Classic, and finished like a train, above, into third place behind Coup Align. Pictures: Kim Cartmell– Paul Pickering
CRANBOURNE trainer Colin Davies seemed unsure whether to laugh or protest after a third placing in the inaugural Apache Cat Classic on Sunday, so he did both.
Davies’ eight-year-old grey Stanzout – a favourite with bookies and local fans – ran into every road block on the track on his way to an unlucky half-length loss to main rival Coup Align.
The Group Two-winning sprinter came from well back at the top of the straight and, having finally found some daylight at the 100-metre mark, stormed home to overtake the leader just metres past the post.
It was a mightily impressive run, but one that didn’t sit comfortably with Davies or jockey Craig Williams.
They spoke briefly before lodging a protest against leading hoop Glen Boss, claiming that Coup Align had blocked Stanzout’s passage out of the congestion at the 150m mark.
The stewards took what seemed like an eternity to announce a verdict, ruling that Stanzout had not been sufficiently impeded for them to uphold the protest.
Davies had hoped the race would launch his stable star’s spring campaign, and it still might, but the loss was a bitter pill to swallow.
“It probably should have won, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“He only really had a 50m sprint and the rest of the race he was doing nothing, so he carried the weight well and just flew at the end.”
Davies revealed his plan to run Stanzout in the Group Three Betfair Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, but said the Apache Cat Classic trophy would have been a handy addition to his cabinet.
“I did want to win that race, because Apache Cat cost me a Group One race a couple of years ago – the Australian Stakes – at Mooney Valley,” he said with a grin.
“I also really admired Apache Cat as a sprinter and I think this race will be around for a long time now and might end up a Listed race.
“It would have been nice to win it, but that’s racing isn’t it.”
