Giresun running hot for Summer Final

By Robert Windmill

He's lean and mean but most importantly he's happy.

Four-year-old Giresun has proven a handful for trainer Peter Snowden and has even been known to wear a muzzle to stop him savaging people around the stable.

But as he heads to Saturday's $100,000 Summer Championship Final (1600m) at Sandown he has never been in better form.

"He's a cantankerous horse you have got to keep happy and at the moment he is very happy," Snowden's son and Melbourne foreman Paul Snowden.

"He will have a good crack at you if he can but when we put a muzzle on him he goes to sleep because he knows he can't get you."

Giresun was gelded before he came to Melbourne this campaign and, while it has done little to assist his anger management, it has been a different story on the track.

After losing form last campaign and a stuttering start to his current preparation he is now threatening to fulfil the promise he showed as young horse.

"There was always had a wrap on him as a two-year-old but he lost his way a little bit when he came back at three," Snowden said.

"We gelded him and it probably took a little bit of time for that to kick in, but coming down here and being his first time away it has really made the horse."

Runner-up to Ilovethiscity in the 2010 Newcastle Spring Stakes as a three-year-old, Giresun lost form after winning at Warwick Farm in February last year but according to Snowden he is now "a different horse".

"He's really trying and putting in and he's racing well," Snowden said.

"He's no carnival horse yet but maybe next prep."

Giresun provided Snowden with a lot of satisfaction when he finished strongly off a moderate pace to win at Caulfield on December 14 and was even more convincing at the same track on Boxing Day when he stormed home off a fast speed to beat Ben Zena.

Steven Arnold rode Giresun at both runs but couldn't make the weight last start when Giresun got bailed up on the fence from barrier one and dead-heated for fourth, 1-1/2 lengths from the winner Over Quota over 1600 metres at Flemington on January 14.

Snowden says Arnold suits Giresun and despite barrier one again he expects the gelding to get the room he needs at Sandown to unleash his strong sprint.

"The horse is in good order and if he can win tomorrow he has done a fantastic job," Snowden said.

"This will finish him off this campaign and it's only going to benefit him for next time."

© Australian Associated Press Pty Limited (AAP) 2012

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