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Stanley Express wins VOBIS Showdown on debut after scratching of race favourite Bold Bastille

Saturday, 27 Apr 2024
Stanley Express wins VOBIS Showdown on debut after scratching of race favourite Bold Bastille
Stanley Express capitalised on the scratching of favourite Bold Bastille at the barriers to land the $1m VOBIS Showdown at Caulfield.

Rule number one in a Showdown is: bring a gun.

Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald did that and left Caulfield with the winner’s prize in Saturday’s $1 million VOBIS Platinum Showdown.

The withdrawal at the barriers of the hot favourite Bold Bastille made life easier for her rivals but Stanley Express still needed to stand up when it mattered.

Bold Bastille broke through the barriers before only cantering a short distance under jockey Luke Currie but Racing Victoria vets ruled her unfit to start.

“She just had a bit of blood in her mouth so they scratched her,” Bold Bastille’s disappointed co-trainer JD Hayes said.

But a significant number of punters were keen to back Stanley Express to beat Bold Bastille.

The gelding had firmed from $15 to $7 before Bold Bastille’s shock scratching.

Jockey Luke Nolen patiently rode Stanley Express back in the field before the son of Starspangledbanner lived up to his jumpouts with a strong surge in the last 200m to beat Terang debut winner Symphony Of Colour ($26).

Stanley Express gave McDonald his second rich two-year-old triumph at Caulfield this season after Hayasugi won the $2m Blue Diamond Stakes in February.

McDonald said Stanley Express was an impressive physical specimen with a great attitude for a youngster on debut.

“He’s a beautiful animal to look at with a big shoulder and big hindquarter and he’s always been strong in his trials,” McDonald said.

“We were pretty confident coming here today but we were a bit worried about his immaturity mentally.

“We knew that if he got clear air, he’d be really strong late.

“He took runs where, for a young horse having his first start, it was pretty impressive.”

Nolen said he had his first sit on Stanley Express last Monday at trackwork.

He said Stanley Express did a few things wrong in that gallop but showed he was one to follow for the future with his powerful finish on debut.

“He’s got the right temperament and the right physical make-up to make a quality animal,” Nolen said.

“He did that on raw ability today but he’s a nice horse going forward.

“I know it was a restricted race today but they don’t often do that and win the way he did.

“I thought it was the win of a horse with a nice future in front of him.”

The $51 chance Stormbourg worked into third placing for trainer John Moloney.
Brad Waters