Trainer Leon Corstens is banking on the addition of blinkers to spark Awesome Bro into form in the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Awesome Bro has been racing in winkers but they come off and the blinkers go on as he looks to recapture his spring form when he was competitive against the best three-year-olds.
“I was disappointed in his two runs (this preparation) but I just thought maybe since he had his knee operation he might have lost a bit of confidence,” Corstens said.
“I’m hoping the blinkers will help him.”
Awesome Bro won won the first two races of his career last year and was also placed twice at stakes level including a close third to Epaulette in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
He finished his spring campaign with a in the Caulfield Guineas, beaten by star performers All Too Hard, Pierro and Epaulette, albeit 4-1/2 lengths from the third placegetter.
Corstens said Awesome Bro had both knees operated on after the spring.
The gelding has been unplaced in his two runs from a spell at Caulfield with his latest effort a sixth over 1200m four weeks ago.
He is a $9 chance in the Creswick Stakes (1200m) in his first try down the Flemington straight.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way the horse is going and he’s in there with a definite chance,” Corstens said.
Awesome Bro will be joined at Flemington by stablemate Felidea who is chasing his fourth win from five starts this campaign in the Winter Championship heat over 1400m.
The four-year-old drops in distance from his last start Flemington win over 1600m five weeks ago and has the second outside barrier.
“I’m really happy with him but the barrier is a bit of a concern,” Corstens said.
“He’ll need a really good ride to get the chocolates tomorrow.”
The trainer is sweating on another scratching from the Paul Lahood Funeral Services Sprint (1200m) at Randwick for second emergency Supreme Warrior to gain a start.
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