Halvorsen to miss 2024 edition of the Standish Handicap

The Standish Handicap not being run on New Year’s Day is still taking some getting used to and this year’s edition, which will be run at Flemington next Saturday, will feel particularly odd.

Halvorsen, who has been a recent staple of the $200,000 Group 3 event over 1200 metres, will not be taking part.

Co-trainer Robbie Griffiths said the two-time Standish winner had suffered a minor setback after his fourth placing in the Kensington Stakes and the best-case scenario was for the eight-year-old to next step out in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on January 27.

“We were planning to try and win his third one, but he just had a little bit of a hiccup a few days ago,” Griffiths said.

“It’s nothing too serious, but he’s a bit older now so we’re leaving it with the vets at this stage.

“We’re working out whether we can go to the Australia Stakes, which was the always the plan after the Standish.”

Halvorsen has a reputation for saving his best for the Flemington straight, but he finished second to September Run in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley in 2022.

That was two runs after Halvorsen’s win in that year’s Standish Handicap, the first mid-January edition of the race first run in 1884, with the son of Magnus having won the 2020 Standish on New Year’s Day.

He missed the 2021 edition but attempted to defend his crown last year but could manage only eighth position in the race won by Snapper.

Griffiths’ other straight-track specialist, Najem Suhail, is also likely to bypass the Standish Handicap with the Cranbourne trainer and his partner Mathew de Kock preferring to keep him to shorter trips.

“He’ll be more than likely be saved for the Adams Stakes at Caulfield, so I don’t think he’ll be going around in the Standish,” Griffiths said.

The $175,000 Listed Adams Stakes (1000m) will be run at Caulfield on Australia Day.