A year-long preparation has not dulled Zou Sensation’s enthusiasm, with trainer Troy Corstens seeing no signs that the gelding is ready to step away from racing.
The six-year-old has responded well to a program that balances city racing with downtime in the country and that approach could again pay dividends in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Since May, Zou Sensation has raced regularly, lining up at least once each month and adding a stakes victory in the Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in August.
Corstens said the gelding’s last start fourth in the $1 million Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham was particularly encouraging.
“It was a really good race, The Supernova, and if you said it was a group one race you’d nearly agree with that,” Corstens said.
“Ben Allen is not back (from leave) so Jamie Melham will ride.”
The current campaign began late in 2024 as Zou Sensation was readied for the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) earlier this year.
Corstens credits the stable’s Geelong-based farm with helping maintain the gelding’s form and soundness.
“The thing with him is that now that we’ve got the farm, he goes up there for four or five days after each race where he works in the morning and goes out in the paddock for the day,” Corstens added.
“If I wasn’t happy with him after the four or five days I’d give him a break, but he came back bouncing.
“It is just something that really suits him and he’s been up for a year now but he has been looking for an excuse to tip him out.”
Corstens believes the approach has extended the racing lives of many horses in his care.
“The majority of horses enjoy it – even the revy fillies. I wish I had done this ten years ago.
“I reckon we get another three or four extra runs out of them which allows our owners to get more bang for their buck.”
Zou Sensation sits at $5 in early markets for the Kensington Stakes behind the $1.95 favourite Persian Spirit.
“If he shows me he needs a spell then we will but if he keeps going well then we don’t need to send him out just because we think we should,” Corstens said.
Full Kensington Stakes betting markets can be found via the Australian betting sites list.
