In a bid to get Little BroseĀ to concentrate, the Lindsay Park stable has called for a set of blinkers ahead of the colt’s outing at Caulfield.
Little Brose steps up to the 1400m for the first timeĀ in blinkersĀ when he runs in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude on Saturday.
And the colt’s performance will then tell trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes whether Little Brose is a genuine hope for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14.
Little Brose stamped his class as a two-year-old when successful in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown in the autumn but has been beaten in two runs as a three-year-old.
The Hayes brothers has juggled the gear Little Brose has worn, applying winkers ahead of the Blue Diamond before removing them when the colt resumed with his fourth-place finish in theĀ Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19.
TheĀ winkersĀ were reapplied for the McNeil Stakes (1200m) on September 2, in which he finished third, but Ben Hayes said blinkers will go on forĀ Saturday’s outing.
“WeĀ think heĀ isĀ looking forĀ theĀ 1400 metres as in his last two runsĀ he’sĀ been hitting the lineĀ quiteĀ well,” Hayes said.
“But heĀ hasn’tĀ really been focussing through the race, changing legs and that sort of thing, which has been affecting him at the finish.
“So,Ā we’veĀ decided to go with a set of blinkers and hopefully that will help him focusĀ whileĀ the extra 200 metres as well should help.
“We’veĀ always wanted to get him out past those sprinting trips, and this is his opportunity to show us that he is a genuine Caulfield Guineas horse.”
Michael Dee, who has ridden Little Brose in six of his seven career starts, including both starts this campaign, for two wins, will again ride the coltĀ on Saturday.
