Bet on a bargain: Grafton ex-racehorse Stan (Optimizer) cost a case of beer, wins $15k show jumping prize

Bought for the price of a case of beer, this former racehorse from Grafton may have been as cheap as chips, but he’s fast as lightning – and quite the show jumper.

Alison and Stan the ex-Grafton racehorse.

A retired ex-racehorse bought for the price of a carton of beer proves talent does not have to come with a hefty price tag.

Racing NSW has announced Grafton-trained Stan has won $15,000 in the New Star category of the Racing NSW initiative Equimillion show jumping competition.

The contest was held at Sydney International Equestrian Centre on October 7 and the reveal came this week.

The category is open to racehorses who have retired in the previous 12 months.

Current owner and rider Alison Ostenfield said buying an ex-racehorse for a carton of beer and competing in the trial was never her intention.

Alison Ostenfield took a bet on Stan and they won the New Star prize of $15,000 in Racing NSW’s Equimillion competition.

The plan was to train recently-retired Stan and sell him to a show jumping student.

But a few injuries pushed that back and Ms Ostenfield kept the eight-year-old stallion longer than expected. In 11 short months, she fell in love.

“Stan is easy going, has a big heart and gives his all,” Ms Ostenfield said.

“He’s very brave and doesn’t chicken out.”

When the chance to enter the competition came up, Ms Ostenfield had just five weeks to prepare Stan.

Sticking to her thrifty ways, Ms Ostenfield chose the class in the competition which had a free entry fee, took a punt and won first prize.

Alison Ostenfield and Stan the ex-racehorse competed without knocking over any poles.

“It felt right and Stan tried really hard and more than anything I was happy that the horse got the accolades,” she said.

The New Star class involved two qualifying rounds of show jumping and one jump-off round.

Stan was one of only six horses to jump clear in all three rounds. He lived up to his racing name, Optimizer, and was the closest to the nominated times, becoming the overall winner.

During his former life as Optimizer, Stan was trained by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne. He was brought to Grafton by Henley Racing in 2022.

He raced five times for Henley Racing and transferred to JB Racing to compete in another four races, before retiring in November last year.

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Originally published as Bet on a bargain: Grafton ex-racehorse Stan (Optimizer) cost a case of beer, wins $15k show jumping prize