Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths has his fingers crossed that the unluckiest horse in his stable, Cascabel, can win him his first Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington.Griffiths, who prepared Standish second-placed Beltrois (2010) and Confederate Kid (2003) as well as third-placed Cocinero in 2007, is hoping that Cascabel can get the breaks in Monday's 1200-metre feature sprint."Poor old Cascabel runs second so many times he needs to be exorcised," Griffiths said."It's a shame because h

Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths has his fingers crossed that the unluckiest horse in his stable, Cascabel, can win him his first Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington.

Griffiths, who prepared Standish second-placed Beltrois (2010) and Confederate Kid (2003) as well as third-placed Cocinero in 2007, is hoping that Cascabel can get the breaks in Monday's 1200-metre feature sprint.

"Poor old Cascabel runs second so many times he needs to be exorcised," Griffiths said.

"It's a shame because he's a ripper horse and really deserves to win one of these good races."

Cascabel has won six of his 42 starts and $344,000 in prize money but that sum would have been much more had he had been able to convert some of his nine seconds into victories.

Most recently he was beaten in a photo by Translation at Flemington on December 10 and last Monday ran home strongly behind Zedi Knight in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Griffiths said that Cascabel was paying the penalty for his racing style where he sits back and charges home, often striking trouble in the process.

"It's probably the biggest thing against him as he likes to take his time and come on late but that is also a invitation to traffic congestion and getting those little things, fractions, that don't go your way," Griffiths said.

"Quite often it is Groundhog Day when it comes to reading post-race reports where this and that happened which stopped him winning.

"His actual performances have been first class."

He said only two starts ago he should have beaten Translation at Flemington but he lost his momentum at a crucial stage at the 200 metres when he wasn't that far off the lead.

He said he also found the long way home in the Christmas Stakes.

"Zedi Knight is a good horse but he sat up front and had a good run and we just had to go a little bit wide on the corner," he said.

"It was one of those little fractions at that level of racing that can make all the difference."

First-up in October he also came wide when second at Caulfield while he got blocked for a run when a close fourth to Standish rival Rocking Force in the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on November 3.

Cascabel's last win was at Caulfield in April when Craig Newitt rode him and Newitt will reunite with the gelding on Monday.

Griffiths' other Standish runner, Danzylum, finished fifth to King Hoaks in the 2009 Flemington sprint but is first-up on Monday and Griffiths is aiming him at next month's Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) which he has won the last two years.

"I'm not overly confident about his Standish chances as he needs to get his fitness back on track to have crack at the Chester Manifold again," Griffiths said.

"He might go all right Monday because he is good old horse but his best form is over 1400 metres."