Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...013405,00.html

Brendan Cormick | April 14, 2008

THE aftermath of the equine influenza crisis is an increasing number of racehorses unable to reach peak performance because of reactions to the vaccines imported to defeat the outbreak, which closed the bloodstock industry in NSW and Queensland. The claims came mostly from Victorian trainers whose horses were vaccinated as a precautionary measure, despite protests that as the state was not affected by EI it was dangerous to expose the animals to the virus.

Six weeks after the Australian horse population was declared free of EI, the series of inoculations administered to protect horses from the debilitating illness are being viewed as anything but a panacea by some trainers. Irregular white cell counts leaving horses lethargic or with a mild temperature are consistent with forecasts from the vaccine's distributors, who suggested 5 per cent of stock would experience mild, short-term side effects. However, some trainers are claiming the onset of respiratory problems is linked to the inoculations and the side-effects are more serious.

Melbourne trainer Colin Davies, with a dozen horses in training at outer southeastern Cranbourne, said sprinter Stanzout's form has tapered since winning a Group II race at Flemington last October and Davies said yesterday it coincided with the EI vaccinations. "I think there have been more horses that have been damaged by these injections than we really think," he said.

"I was one of those guys that didn't believe we should give our horses the injections in Victoria. Fair enough to do it in Sydney, but it (vaccinating) should not have come into Victoria while it (the virus) wasn't here." Stanzout was vetted after a disappointing run in the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield on Easter Monday and was found to have atrial fibrulation. Davies asked his veterinary surgeon to perform an exhaustive check of Stanzout that revealed pharyngitis.

"It is unusual for a five-year-old to get it. It is more common in a two- or three-year-old. His throat and windpipe was red raw, like it was sunburnt," Davies said. The vet cleared the horse to resume training on Friday. Davies' other well-performed horse, Shadow, won at Caulfield in the spring before being inoculated and "won't get out of his own way".

sourced:http://www.sport927.com.au/sport927/newsItem.asp?id=1&item=3862

The past couple of months have been a test for Cranbourne trainer Colin Davies and his smart horse, Stanzout but hopefully now the horse is back to produce his best again.

Davies told Sky Channel reporter, Andrew Bensley that Stanzout had suffered a breakdown to his immune system after receiving a shot against Equine Influenza.

Davies said all blood tests had showed no signs of any problems but when he battled in his last race start, vets scoped Stanzout and it showed the horses wind pipe was red roar. Davies was told racing would've been aggravating the horse badly and he immediately eased up.

Over the past few weeks, Stanzout has been progressing well and scopes have showed the problem has gone. Ten days ago, Stanzout trialled over 800 metres, jockey Greg Childs reporting the horse felt very strong.

On Saturday, Stanzout will run in the Straight Six at Flemington, Davies believes the horse will show up in great order and produce his very best.

Stewards quickly dismissed the protest, much to winning trainer Colin Davies's delight. "I am really excited because it is my first Group II win," Davies said. "I am just rapt."

Stanzout has won six of his 16 starts, but he has endured a frustrating spring, finishing within three lengths of the winners in the Listed Monash Stakes (1100m), Group III McEwen Stakes (1000m) and Group I Manikato Stakes (1200m). After suffering a buffeting in both the McEwen and Manikato, he was a fast-finishing long-neck second to Sonic Quest at Caulfield last time out.

"He thought he had won last time, went home happy and ate up, so he went into today with confidence and showed them what he's really made of," Davies said of Stanzout. "He was a different horse compared to when he got knocked around at his previous starts, and was sad and not eating. "He deserved to win as he has been so unlucky."I feel sorry for him because he has been knocked from pillar to post but he got up and showed them today how good he is. "He is a darn good horse and he is still learning."

Winning jockey Nash Rawiller had Stanzout handily placed and urged him to the line to score by a half-neck from Shadoways, with 2005 Group I Emirates Stakes winner Valedictum finding form at his second run back to finish third place 2¼ lengths away.Davies said that Stanzout could start in Melbourne Cup week, with a number of options available including the Group II Salinger Stakes and the Group I The Age Classic, both over 1200m. Longer-term, Davies has the Group I Newmarket Handicap as a goal. "We will see how he does but next autumn is the time for him," Davies said. AAP

SHADOW gave punters an early jolt yesterday, breaking a 27-run dry-track drought in the Coffex Cup (1400m). Starting at $51, Shadow led all the way before holding off the fast-closing Zilzie ($6.50).

It was Shadow's first win on a dry track in 28 attempts.

Trained at Cranbourne by Colin Davies brought up his ninth win from 66 starts in the Coffex Cup at Caulfield this afternoon.

Warm favourite Spielmeister was always mid field in the run, making up a little ground to finish sixth.

Shadow's win was a testament to Colins' faith in the gelding, after numerous calls by one of his owners to retire him as he appeared to be beyond city class. Fortunately Colin had his way the rest is now history. Shadow has now collected AUD$207,000 in prizemoney from his nine wins and 14 placings, and has proved to be a reliable performer for his owners R O'Brien, Ms J O'Brien, D Sullivan, R Waldron, G Griffiths, Mrs K Waldron, D Thomson, R Joblin & Mrs M Griffiths'.

Formerly owned in New Zealand by his breeder Mrs K Lane, Shadow (NZ), a full brother to the dual Gr.1 winner Zvezda (NZ), represented another successful performer in Australia for his sire His Royal Highness (NZ), who enjoyed victory earlier in the year in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) with Sculptor (NZ).

WHILE all the city slickers headed to Sydney, Cranbourne's Colin Davies slipped into Caulfield yesterday with smart galloper Stanzout.

Stanzout won his fifth race from only seven starts in the Gippsland Sprint Final -- and earned himself consideration for the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield at Easter and possibly Queensland's famous Stradbroke Handicap.

If he succeeds, Davies will be rewarded for his patience. He bred the 4-y-o gelding but endured a horror start to his career when the gelding was spooked by wind and finished last of eight on debut.

The galloper then was cast in the stalls at Moe and withdrawn with injury, forcing a 30-week spell. However after that, his rise has been stunning. He won at Kilmore and twice at Mornington before being beaten only a neck by the smart Bon Hoffa, who in his latest two starts has been runner-up to the outstanding Apache Cat. Stanzout then contracted a virus and was spelled again, but this time in he has enticed Davies to aim for the stars. He strolled in at Stony Creek before yesterday's emphatic win.

Davies, who has only five horses in work, in contrast to the mega stables of the big trainers, refers to Stanzout as "my little superstar". "There is still improvement in him, he is still green," Davies said.

"But now it is time to take on the big boys and I'm looking at the Victoria Handicap and then maybe the Stradbroke Handicap." They are lofty goals for a first-time city winning galloper, but Davies knows his gelding and its enormous potential. Stanzout ($2.5 fav) ran the 1200m in 1:10.15 on a slow track and into a headwind into the straight.

Sunday March 25, 2007

Promising sprinter Stanzout passed his first metropolitan test and earned a Victoria Handicap start when he proved too speedy for his rivals in the Gippsland Sprint Final at Caulfield yesterday.

The grey by unfashionable stallion Gallo Di Ferro has now won five of his seven starts for his breeder and trainer Colin Davies.

Cranbourne-based Davies bred the 4-year-old gelding out of his Mentat Duke mare Stanza Grey.

Stanzout will meet Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) winner Mind Your Head in the Group Three Victoria Hcp (1400m) at Caulfield on Easter Monday.

Vlad Duric completed a winning double on Stanzout who led all the way to score by two lengths from Candy Man with Bowhunter a long neck away third. Duric earlier won on the Robert Smerdon-trained 3-year-old Let's Migrate in the Fat Quaddies Hcp (1200m).

Duric believes Stanzout won't have any trouble handling 1400m, a distance he was narrowly beaten at by the smart Bon Hoffa in a Cranbourne Class 4 last October.

Stanzout qualified for the race with a first-up win at Stony Creek after recovering from a virus which forced him to miss the Greys Class 6 race at Flemington on Oaks Day last spring.

Mr Machello runs up to Colin's expectations

Mr Machello the striking son of Tuscanos, the best performed 2 year old son of Encosta de lago to stand at stud in Australia ran right up to Colins' expectations when he put in yet another fine effort to finish 3rd at Benella on Sunday 5th October. Racing from a wide barrier Mr Machello began very well and soon crossed the field to take the lead and set the pace. Coming to the turn Mr Machello had dropped back slightly but as soon as they straightened he began to make steady ground all the way to the post for a very creditable placing. All things lean towards Mr Machello paying his way this campaign. Again dont let this fellow get under your guard.

TOTAL LIBERTY READY TO DELIVER

By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Nov 27 AAP - Trainer Colin Davies believes he has another smart horse on his hands in three-year-old filly Total Liberty who will run in Saturday's Elvis "Ricky" Thurgood 50th Birthday Plate at Moonee Valley.

Davies, who prepares a small team of half a dozen horses at Cranbourne, experienced racing at the elite level with talented sprinter Stanzout who was three-times Group One-placed last season and gave the trainer his biggest win in the Group Two 2007 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

However the grey hasn't raced since finishing sixth to the ill-fated Sunburnt Land in the Straight Six at Flemington in May when he suffered a career-threatening injury.

"It was a nasty injury. His back legs slipped jumping out of the barriers and he pulled muscle off the pelvic bone," Davies said.

"He's still in the paddock recovering. An injury like that takes a while to heal and I hope it does heal.

"The horse is happy in himself and he looks alright, but it takes time. I would love to get him back."

Total Liberty is raced in similar interests, by Richard and Kay Waldron, Ross and Julie O'Brien and Graham and Maureen Griffiths who race Stanzout with Davies' wife.

"They bought her dam Ton Of Class after seeing her at Bluegum Farm while on a bus tour and this filly is her first foal," Davies said.

"They liked the mare because she was by Centaine." Davies also trains Total Liberty's two-year-old full-brother Radon who is raced by the same owners and ran last in the Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at his debut at Sandown on November 15.

By Storm Cat stallion Statue Of Liberty, Total Liberty made a winning debut in a Yarra Glen three-year-old maiden (1000m) on Cox Plate day and was runner-up by a half-length at $21 to the unbeaten True Tales in a 0-72 three-year-old (1200m) at the Moonee Valley night meeting on November 14.

"She's a lovely filly. She's still maturing and I think she'll be better in the autumn," Davies said. "I was hoping to run her in the Red Roses at Flemington on Oaks day but she didn't get a start. "I couldn't run her earlier as she was a bit shinny." Mark Pegus will ride Total Liberty who drew barrier six in the eight-horse field.

Moonee Valley 2nd