Cranbourne trainer Colin Davies is eagerly awaiting Saturday's Bletchingly Stakes with stable star Stanzout who he believes is back to his best form.The grey came from last at the 400m in the Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 17 to finish fourth to the highly-rated three-year-old Reward For Effort, beaten less than three-quarters of a length."I couldn't have been any happier with the run," Davies said."He was the only horse to break 45 (seconds) for the last half-mile (800m)."Davies sai

Cranbourne trainer Colin Davies is eagerly awaiting Saturday's Bletchingly Stakes with stable star Stanzout who he believes is back to his best form.

The grey came from last at the 400m in the Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 17 to finish fourth to the highly-rated three-year-old Reward For Effort, beaten less than three-quarters of a length.

"I couldn't have been any happier with the run," Davies said.

"He was the only horse to break 45 (seconds) for the last half-mile (800m)."

Davies said the gelding needed the run at his previous outing when eighth to Bletchingly rival Elumino in the All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 10, which was his first start for six weeks.

Stanzout has won eight races in his 38-start career, six over his pet trip of 1200m - the distance of the Group Three Bletchingly at Caulfield - and two at 1100m.

"The 1100 metres is a bit short for him now and it was a bit of an ask to come from last (in the Monash)," Davies said.

"I'd like to see him in the middle of the field and the 1200 metres suits.

"Weight-for-age (conditions) suit him because he's not giving away too much weight and he seems to handle himself well at it.

"I'm looking forward to Saturday."

Top jockey Craig Williams will ride Stanzout on Saturday.

He has ridden the rising eight-year-old twice for second placings including when runner-up to Apache Cat in the Group One Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in February 2008.

Stanzout landed his best win in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in October 2007 and has been placed at the highest level three times.

Apart from the Australia Stakes second, he was third in The Age Classic (1200m) in November 2007 and in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) in February 2008, both at Flemington.

However he lost form due to health issues and was not placed again until he ran third under 60kg in the Mildura Cup (1400m) in May last year.

"He's really just got himself back to his best. Most of his issues were after he had an EI (equine influenza) injection after he won the Gilgai," Davies said.

"He got a lung infection and it took him a long time to get better but it's healed over time.

"He used to pull up a bit ordinary after gallops and races but he's now fully recovered.

"Over the spring he should be able to pick up a couple of good races but we'll take one step at a time.

"He's a pretty fit horse and he hasn't over-exerted himself."

After a layoff of eight months, Stanzout won the Sale Quality (1200m) first-up in February and three starts later was runner-up to Orbit Express, with Williams in the saddle, over 1200m at Caulfield in March.

Fresh from a six-week freshen-up he gave Davies a great thrill when he won the Listed Wangoom Hcp (1200m) at Warrnambool four starts back on May 5.

Octavanus, prepared at Cranbourne by Ross Pecora, was a late entry for the Bletchingly on Tuesday bringing the number of nominations to 13.

Among the entries are four Group One winners - star Queensland three-year-old Shoot Out, Douro Valley, Mr Baritone and Velocitea.