The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained gelding, Zou Sensation, will maintain a consistent racing schedule in Victoria after a poor showing during his recent interstate travels.
Zou Sensation is set to resume racing in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, with the stable possibly targeting a Group 1 event later in his campaign.
Troy Corstens stated that the gelding has not performed at his best on previous interstate trips and has confirmed that the sprinter’s travelling days are over.
After a win at Flemington on New Year’s Eve and a last-place finish at Caulfield in February, the Corstens and Larkin team had harboured aspirations of a Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign for Zou Sensation.
Finishing fifth at Scone in May, Zou Sensation then travelled to Brisbane where, in his one start, he finished ahead of only one other competitor in the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) on June 6.
On a prior visit to Queensland in January 2025, Zou Sensation finished in the midfield in two races, one at the Sunshine Coast and the other in the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast.
“He will never travel again, it just doesn’t suit him,” Corstens said.
“I’m not sure what it is. We’ve tried it a couple of times, but he’s just not at his best when we’ve travelled him, so we’ll never travel with him again.”
Since his return to his Flemington home, Zou Sensation has participated in two trials at Werribee.
In the first trial on July 3, he finished fourth behind Hard Kick and Cruiserweight, and last Friday, he defeated Evaporate over 800m.
“He trialled really well on Friday morning,” Corstens confirmed.
“He pulled up well, he’s come through it well and we’re looking forward to seeing him at Caulfield on Saturday.”
Corstens indicated that the team’s future plans would be determined by Zou Sensation’s performance on Saturday, but the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield remains a potential objective.
“Saturday is the kick-off and you look at him and you think he is a Rupert Clarke sort of horse,” Corstens commented.
“We’ve got to try and see if we can get him there.
“The Peter Lawrence could be next, but we’ll have a look and see and we’ll be guided by what he does on Saturday.”
Zou Sensation has drawn barrier eight in the nine-horse field and will be ridden by Jamie Mott.
Two former Perth gallopers, Cosmic Crusader and Aztec Ruler, are set to make their Victorian debuts on Saturday and have drawn barriers one and three respectively.
Check out the racing betting markets for Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.