Trainer Paul Messara is happy with Panzer Division heading into the 2014 Spring Champion Stakes, but was clearly frustrated to draw the outside barrier with the talented colt for the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Panzer Division has been a forgotten horse heading into the 2014 Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Messara told Racing Ahead this morning that he was confident Panzer Division would fight out the finish in the Spring Champion Stakes with a bit of luck and he took to Twitter to vent his disappointment after Panzer Division was allocated barrier nine.
“What do I have to do to draw a decent barrier in a good race,” Messara asked on Twitter.
“Unbelievable.
“Panzer Division draws the outside which diminishes his chances.”
While Messara was disappointed with the outcome of the Spring Champion Stakes barrier draw, he remains happy with the physical condition of Panzer Division and believes that the three-year-old has been the forgotten horse heading into the Group 1 event this weekend.
Panzer Division stamped himself as a colt to watch when he finished a close second behind stablemate Scissor Kick in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on August 23 and was given an opportunity at weight-for-age level in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) after he took out the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6.
Messara believes that Panzer Division was far from disgraced when fifth in the George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick on September 20 and is confident that the Redoute’s Choice colt has taken plenty of benefit from the run heading into the Spring Champion Stakes this weekend.
“I thought that he ran really well,” Messara told Racing Ahead.
“The horse is still learning, I think in his last start we probably didn’t run him to his best advantage and I think we would have been better off taking off a little bit earlier rather than leaving it to a sit and sprint.
“That is the way that it was, but I am very happy with the horse and he galloped super this morning.
“He just had a little breeze-up and he was very sharp, so I am very pleased with him heading into Saturday.
“I have no questions about him running out the 2000 and he is as fit as he can be going into it.
“As long as things fall our way, particularly with the barrier, and we get a nice run in transit, I just see him fighting out the finish.
“I think that he has been a bit of a forgotten horse when you look at the form of this field.”
Panzer Division is currently available at 2014 Spring Champion Stakes odds of $6.50 with Ladbrokes Australia, while Flight Stakes winner First Seal ($1.90) is a clear favourite from the undefeated Sweynesse ($3.60).
