Stanzout is a unique racehorse at 11, an age when most horses have long retired he is still racing, mixing it with the best, even though he has not won a race for three years he still retains a high timeform rating of 90.

He is just one of those old tough horses that come along every now and again, they don’t give up, he is as tough as teak.

This trainer, Colin Davies, had a grin from ear to ear after the old gelding rattled home to finish fifth, not much more than a length or so from the winner in the Sportingbet Handicap, over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

That was his 70^th race start, his record is nine wins and 17 placings, he picked up another $2,000 taking his stake earnings to $854,507.

The million would come in handy for Colin Davies and his wife, they share ownership in the grey gelding, but that might be asking too much of the old fellow.

Moonee Valley’s track manager, Martin Synan, had his troops marshalled ready to spring into action once correct weight was announced for the last race on Saturday.

The operation, “spring restoration”, that time of the year when the track receives its annual facelift as it awaits the important races of the spring.

Long before the bars had closed the running rail had been completely removed, the mowers were ticking over, much of the operation would be done under lights.

This is a huge advantage Moonee Valley has over the other city tracks; it gives the track manager more options, particularly with watering over the hot summer months.

With the mowing completed, the track reseeded, it is full steam ahead for the next race meeting on the 14^th of September, with the major attraction the Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Gregers made a one act affair of the Mitchelton Wines Plate, after drawing an outside gate she quickly found the fence, from there on the race became a procession, she was never in danger of defeat.

The long range plan is the Thousand Guineas and there is still room for improvement from what we saw at Moonee Valley.

She stripped a very fit filly, her coat was much better than when she won previously, with the extra distance not a matter for concern.

Her trainer, David Hayes, feels she could be a better chaser than a leader, however, that may take a bit of convincing as she looks a natural speed horse on what she has shown to date.

Much will depend on her progress over the next two weeks when she contests the Danehill Stakes at Flemington that will be a better guide as to whether she continues on to the Thousand Guineas.

The Danehill, down the straight six, would be a much more testing assignment than the 1200 metres at Moonee Valley.

From a Guineas point of view The Huntress turned in a nice run pleasing connections, she could not adapt to the early pace set by the winner, yet was running on well in the straight.

This was her first run since May when she finished third in Adelaide, she will be improved by the outing, the Guineas is also her mission.

Gregers ridden by Chad Schofield 

Everything is ticking over nicely for Mark Kavanagh, he is not far off showcasing his spring stable stars, Atlantic Jewel and Super Cool.

Yet he is still playing his cards close to his chest, it is still early days with one rising star in Super Cool, the impressive Australian Cup winner, and the other coming back from injury, it is a long road with no bends.

After Friday’s trials, over the straight six track at Flemington, Atlantic Jewel had on lookers stunned with the ease of her trial win, and the time recorded.

Even her trainer, Mark Kavanagh, was a bit tongue in cheek, there was always that touch of apprehension, it has now been erased.

The trainer is satisfied with the mare, she is now back ticking all the boxes, it is just a matter of when she will appear in a race.

Her trainer will not be rushed into any half baked decisions, he has played it cool all the way and that is not going to change.

There is a chance that both of his stars could clash when they open their spring campaigns that is yet to be decided.

One can sense Mark Kavanagh has a soft spot in his heart for Atlantic Jewel, and why not? She has been plagued with injury for much of her life, yet still remains unbeaten after seven wins.

She is among the best mares in the world with a price tag on her that Mosstropper couldn’t jump over.

Mark Kavanagh has performed the ultimate with his care and attention, plus the aid of his staff and veterinary attention, she is certain to receive a warm welcome when she finally returns to the track.

Mark Kavangh with his stars - Atlantic Jewel and Super Cool

Superlatives were awash at Caulfield yesterday after the outstanding win of the imported grey entire, Puissance De Lune, a lucrative spring now awaits him, he gave his opposition a long start from 800 metres and was basically untouched winning the Group 2 Peter Lawrence Stakes.

Whilst it was not the strongest weight for age field, by any sense of imagination, that is of little concern, he was simply devastating coming from last in winning, giving his rivals a galloping lesson.

He has shortened dramatically for the Melbourne Cup after that performance in the Peter Lawrence; it will take something special to dislodge him from his perch.

The run was quite stunning, the big grey didn’t leave the gates cleanly, as a result he was last going over the hill, and down the railway side he looked to have the task ahead of him at that stage.

Nearing the home turn Glen Boss didn’t look for runs on the inside, he went around every horse to ensure a clear passage in the straight, without a single flip of the whip, the issue was soon beyond doubt.

Puissance De Lune - About to claim the leaders

He produces great acceleration when called upon; he is surely a class act and will be vastly improved by the run, he looks to have weight for age races at his mercy.

There are no immediate plans about his next run; the Melbourne Cup of course is the ultimate, with races under the set weight scale the best and only course along the way.

Owner, Gerry Ryan, has been down the avenue before with Americain and could be heading in the same direction again, while Darren Weir finished second with She’s Archie 10 years ago in the Melbourne Cup, and Glen Boss has won the race three times riding Makybe Diva.

The winning trio - Gerry Ryan, wife Val and Darren Weir