KEY POINTS:
Aztec Smytzer will return to Sandown today for the first time since his promising career was derailed at the track two years ago.
The five-year-old is back in form and ready to post his fourth win in 17 starts in the Sandown Stakes, but owner Tony Santic can only wonder what might have been for the son of Singspiel had he remained sound.
It is exactly two years since his career was literally stopped in its tracks in the Sandown Guineas.
One of the top fancies for the group two feature, he looked a winning chance at the 100-metre mark when Million Lad, who was in front of him, broke a leg. Aztec Smytzer finished third but would not race again for another nine months after having surgery to remove a bone chip from his near-side knee.
* Popular race caller Bryan Martin will turn off his microphone for the last time at the conclusion of today's nine-race Sandown meeting.
Martin, whose career has spanned 36 years, will end his 2 1/2year tenure as TVN's Melbourne race caller.
He has also enjoyed calling stints in Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong, New Guinea, Canada and New Zealand.
"It's been a fantastic journey and I've enjoyed every moment and I'm now looking forward to the next phase of my career," Martin said. He was a part-owner of two-time Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh.
- AAP
