Trainer Clinton McDonald could only laugh after watching Vestas gallop at Caulfield, jokingly suggesting someone should organise a wide gate for the mare.
Instead, she has drawn barrier two for Saturday’s Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m), forcing McDonald to hope that blinkers will help turn her form around.
Vestas was given a solid hit-out at Caulfield on Tuesday wearing the new gear, an attempt to sharpen her up after a disappointing effort over 1200 metres at Caulfield on November 15.
“The other day I didn’t think she tried one yard,” McDonald said, outlining the reasoning for the gear change.
“She was disappointing and we’ve got to try something different with her.
“She’s a temperamental mare, and a bit like Cinderella, she needs everything perfect and being a racehorse, you don’t always get that.
“She’s got to build our trust back, but her work on Tuesday morning was solid, and the proof will be in the pudding on race day.”
Despite her modest record of one win and two placings from eight outings, McDonald believes Vestas has the natural ability to succeed in Black Type company.
She won on debut at Cranbourne before jumping straight into the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes, running second during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
But that early glimpse of talent has only added to McDonald’s frustration.
“She’s going to lose a lot more than she wins because of her racing pattern and that’s because of the way you’ve got to ride her,” he said.
“She doesn’t like being inside horses. She’s not a stable favourite at the moment, I can assure you, but all we can do is try new things.
“We can’t fault her condition, her action is good and she’s eating well.
“She’s a very good mare on her day. She’s got a great turn of foot and she’s a Black Type mare.
“We’ve got to remember too that she’s very lightly raced.
“She’s a four-year-old mare that’s had eight starts, she’s still got to learn how to race and maybe it’s now time to put the blinkers and see if that makes a difference for her.”
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