Chris Waller plans to reintroduce blinkers to Autumn Boy for the Doncaster Mile where he’ll face off once more with Sheza Alibi, winner of the Randwick Guineas, seeking that extra something.
Blinkers were part of the colt’s gear for his Caulfield Guineas success in the spring, yet omitted in his trio of runs this time around.
The trainer anticipates the change will better concentrate Autumn Boy upon returning to shorter than the Rosehill Guineas‘s 2000m.
“Coming back to a mile isn’t easy,” Waller said.
“I don’t think he needs the blinkers as a racehorse, but I’ve put them on to make sure he’s there in Kerrin’s (McEvoy’s) hands when he asks him to quicken.”
His current preparation has seen the three-year-old notch third place versus Ninja in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), second to Sheza Alibi in the Randwick Guineas, and a breakthrough success in the Rosehill event.
In the upcoming Doncaster Mile (1600m), Sheza Alibi has a 1kg edge at set weights, but according to Waller, starting stalls and pace dynamics will decide things.
The Melbourne-based filly tops early markets at $2, Autumn Boy quoted at $5.
“If he draws well and she doesn’t draw so well, the market will change a little bit,” Waller said.
“She was terrific, and he was great the other day. It comes down to luck in running.
You need a strong 2000-metre horse to win a tough Randwick mile. That’s what I’m going with, and he’s got a pretty good weight (52kg).”
Strength in numbers for Waller, as Sixties and Militarize are in, Lazzura and Lady Shenandoah tipped for the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), and Beiwacht for the All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Waller holds a record of six Doncaster Mile triumphs at Randwick, the most recent courtesy of Winx in 2016.
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