The addition of blinkers proved a winning move for Darley filly Disputes who landed an overdue win in Saturday’s Listed Reginald Allen Stakes at Rosehill.
Disputes ($7) was still a maiden after seven starts heading into the 1400-metre feature and had disappointed first-up when she finished down the track in a maiden at Newcastle.
But sporting blinkers on Saturday, the filly settled in the second half of the field for jockey Josh Parr and switched on when it mattered, giving chase to leader Choice Words ($4) to nail her in the final strides and score by a neck.
Trainer Peter Snowden was in Melbourne to watch Helmet win the Caulfield Guineas Prelude but stable representative Jason Walsh said they were confident Disputes would perform.
“Both Peter and (stable jockey) Kerrin McEvoy were very confident she would improve with blinkers,” Walsh said.
“We were very disappointed after Newcastle, she got back and they didn’t go fast enough for her but you would still like to see them run on.”
Walsh said Disputes was now likely to head to Melbourne for some of the second and third tier fillies races.
“Today was about getting her back to her best form,” Walsh said.
“Peter is thinking he will probably try to find some similar sorts of races in Melbourne.”
Runner-up Choice Words did a tremendous job at just her second start, fighting strongly after being challenged for the early lead.
Lightly-raced Guy Walter-trained filly Eyes On Guard ($10) also ran a nice race, finishing three-quarters of a length back in third.
AAP TURF