Barry Baldwin believes Lock’s Legend is a candidate for blinkers but has resisted the temptation to use them on him at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
After Lock’s Legend was beaten in a deceptive finish at Doomben last Saturday, jockey Jeff Lloyd told Baldwin the gelding’s lack of concentration was a contributing factor in his defeat.
“Jeff thought the horse cost himself the race by stargazing and doing a few things wrong but he’s still learning to race and I don’t think he’s a wayward horse,” Baldwin said.
“I like to race my horses in blinkers and I believe in their worth, but I’m frightened he might want to over-race if I put them on at this stage.”
Win, lose or draw, Lock’s Legend will be in the spelling paddock after Saturday’s assignment with a winter carnival campaign on the agenda.
With Lloyd booked to ride Moment Of Impact in the Sky Racing Handicap (1200m), Michael Cahill will be reunited with Lock’s Legend on Saturday after riding him to a stunning win by more than eight lengths at Ipswich on January 18.
“When I asked him to go in the straight he flattened out and gave me a really good feel that day,” Cahill said.
“Going to the gates he was a bit proppy and starry-eyed and I wondered if he would show much speed early but he got over easy enough and then I was able to bring him back underneath me.”
Cahill believes Lock’s Legend is still on a learning curve but rates the son of Bel Danoro a progressive type.
“He felt pretty raw and green the day I rode him but still gave me the impression he has plenty of natural ability and improvement in him,” he said.
“I like him and drawing barrier three on Saturday gives us some good options. I imagine he’ll be in behind the leaders and should appreciate chasing them down in the straight.”
Among Cahill’s attractive book of rides at Eagle Farm is first starter Tip Top Tiger, a son of Fastnet Rock who was bought by trainer Dan Bougoure at last year’s Inglis Easter sale for $420,000.
Tip Top Tiger was an impressive barrier trial winner in October before Bougoure scratched him from an early season two-year-old event when the colt had an elevated white cell count.
A Golden Slipper campaign hinges on how Tip Top Tiger performs in the XXXX Gold Handicap (1000m) for which he is the $1.85 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds.
