Lifesaving surgery for a severe colic attack suffered by Monashee Knight last year solved a form mystery which had stumped trainer Darren Bell.Bell had wondered why Monashee Knight, who won the Tote Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, was not living up to his potential until he was struck down by colic and nearly died undergoing surgery in May last year.However, during the operation surgeons discovered a small piece of towel which the gelding had apparently swallowed had caused an intes
Lifesaving surgery for a severe colic attack suffered by Monashee Knight last year solved a form mystery which had stumped trainer Darren Bell.
Bell had wondered why Monashee Knight, who won the Tote Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, was not living up to his potential until he was struck down by colic and nearly died undergoing surgery in May last year.
However, during the operation surgeons discovered a small piece of towel which the gelding had apparently swallowed had caused an intestinal blockage.
"The towel was the size of both fists and for some reason it was never passed," Bell said.
"We're not sure how he came to eat it or how long it was in his intestines but I had a lot of issues with him early in his career with scouring and other problems."
Monashee Knight scored by 1-1/4 lengths to record his fourth win from 18 starts but Bell still wonders how long the gelding had suffered from the blockage.
"We're not sure when he swallowed the towel but you wonder how long it had been there and whether he may have won races with it," he said.
Meanwhile, promising three-year-old Left Standing may not be top-shelf just yet but trainer Gillian Heinrich liked what she saw in his narrow win in the Vice Regal Room Hcp (1000m).
Heinrich had higher hopes with stablemate Kane Mochi, who finished fifth as odds-on favourite in the Ascot Bar Handicap (1200m), but Left Standing stole the limelight when he edged out the Bryan Guy-trained Gallant Hawk.
Left Standing could hardly have made a greater impression even though his winning margin was only a neck and it was against moderate maiden opposition.
The son of Stravinsky pulled a front shoe on the way to the barriers and delayed the start for several minutes while he was reshod and also had to overcame an outside alley with the false rail out eight metres before scoring his first win in four starts.
Left Standing, who was having his first start since finishing third to the talented Bruce McLachlan-trained Acorns in the Listed Golden Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in May, was purchased for $75,000 at New Zealand's Karaka sales .
"His mother (Anatomy) is a Group Three winner and he'll get a lot further later on," said Heinrich.
Left Standing, who was perfectly ridden by Scott Seamer, bucked on his debut when he tailed the field at Eagle Farm last December before being placed at his subsequent two metropolitan appearances last campaign.
"He bucked for a furlong (200m) in his first start but then he ran second at Eagle Farm and it was a good run the day he ran third to Acorns in the Golden Stakes," Heinrich said.
"I think he'll run at least 1600 metres but I'm not getting too carried away as this was only a midweek maiden.
"I'll run him next over 1200 metres but there's some nice three-year-old races later in the Melbourne carnival and I wouldn't be afraid to take him down if he measures up."