Stanley Express powers to victory in The Showdown
Stanley Express defied the odds, orchestrating a stunning debut victory at Caulfield in the $1 million Showdown (1200m) on Saturday.
His surge from last to first secured hefty wins for backers, with his odds shortening from $18 to $7 with online bookmakers and then to $5 following the withdrawal of the formidable Bold Bastille due to a barrier incident.
Trained by Clinton McDonald, Stanley Express sealed the win by a half-length, leaving Symphony Of Colour and Stormbourg trailing behind.
The Showdown 2024 Replay – Stanley Express
McDonald expressed his admiration, stating, “He’s done an amazing job this horse as we missed a trial with him. But he’s a horse that we had a good line on and he’s showed us a lot at home.”
The credit for unearthing Stanley Express goes to Shane McGrath of Harbour Racing, whom McDonald praised, saying, “The best in the business, Shane McGrath, he found him. He’s picked Hayasugi and this horse. I think he paid $100,000 for this and $40,000-odd for Hayasugi.”
Looking ahead, McDonald has set his sights on Brisbane, revealing, “We’ll take him up to Queensland. We are going to take six-to-eight horses and winter them up there. I think he can be a real top-notch three-year-old sprinter. He’s got a big frame on him, he moves well and he’s got a big motor. We’d like to give him a run up there, give him a break in the warmer weather and look at the spring.”