Phoenix Third Has Daceys On Cloud Nine

"THAT was pretty good" … is what 90-year-old owner Claude Dacey texted trainer Tom Tzouvelis after home grown Queenslander Daysea's Rory ran out of his skin to finish third in the Group 1 The Phoenix (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

Daysea's Rory was beaten five lengths behind Explicit and Smooth Plane in the "world's richest race" and picked up a cool $150,000.

He went to the start as the rank outsider at $31.

That was not lost on Tzouvelis.

"The racebook on the night had a dozen ‘experts' give their selections for The Phoenix," Tzouvelis said.

"They were asked to pick the finishing order from one to eight, and all but Corey Smith picked him to run last. Corey picked him to run fifth."

That mattered zilch to Team Tzouvelis.

"I honestly thought he was a great place chance," he added.

"And, if a couple around him going to the first turn had left him alone, he would have been clear and in front.

"I thought for a fleeting moment he was going to lead.

"But, all honours to the winner Explicit, and what an enormous run by Smooth Plane to run second."

Claude and his wife Norma stayed home. Their sons Jim and Rob were at The Meadows.

Rob told Tom during the night he rang his dad early in the night and Claude had informed him "I'll watch the replay in the morning".

Obviously Claude stayed up late to take in the race.

Tzouvelis will bring Daysea's Rory back north and plans are to run him in the heats of the Group 2 Queensland Derby (520m) at Albion Park next Friday night.

"He did not travel too well to Melbourne for his trial at The Meadows, but he was much better for the race," Tzouvelis said.

"We will freshen him up for the Derby heats this week and after that there are plenty of good races for him during the Summer Carnival.

"I'm hoping the experience of going away like this will be the making of the dog.

"We will manage him from now on, looking at him week to week.

"The Derby in Sydney would be an option, but it does not fit in with all those good races at home."