Ear muffs could turn consistent placegetter Chillin With Dylan into a winner in the Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Chillin With Dylan has won only one race but he has also run three seconds, six thirds and a fourth from 13 starts.
Beaudesert trainer Ben Ahrens was convinced Chillin With Dylan was up to Group company right from the horse’s two-year-old days.
His opinion was confirmed when Chillin With Dylan ran third to Worthy Cause and Upham in the Gunsynd Plate at the Gold Coast.
Chillin With Dylan then ran fourth behind Derby favourite Sadler’s Lake in the Rough Habit Plate.
Ahrens said Chillin With Dylan should have nearly won the Gunsynd Plate as he wanted to hang almost the entire trip and came around the home turn 10 horses wide.
“We worked on him and got him to stop wanting to hang. But he still wanted to over-race a little in the Rough Habit Plate and that left him flat in the final 200m,” Ahrens said.
“To run fourth was still a very good effort. We have put ear muffs on him this week and hopefully that will stop him wanting to over-race,” Aherns said.
Chillin With Dylan will press on to the Queensland Derby at Doomben on June 6.
“If we can stop him wanting to over-race I think the Derby will suit him down to the ground,” Ahrens said.
He has really pleased me this week and he won’t be wanting on the score of fitness,” Aherns sad.
