The addition of blinkers proved a winning move for Gerald Ryan-trained filly Aerobar who upstaged favourite Echo Gal to claim the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes on Thursday.
Ryan opted to make the gear change after Aerobar failed to beat a runner home at her previous start at Rosehill.
Ridden by James McDonald, the filly sat outside leader Echo Gal and the two entered the Wyong straight together before Aerobar ($9) shook off her rival and raced clear to score by 1-1/4 lengths.
Echo Gal ($2.30) held on for second with Cyclone ($9.50) doing his best work late to finish another half neck away third.
Ryan said he had been toying with putting blinkers on Aerobar for some time and regretted not doing it sooner.
“A couple of times I’ve seen her in a race, especially as a two-year-old, and I said to (owners) the Flowers, `I reckon when she gets in amongst horses she doesn’t like it and she’s a dead-set blinker horse’,” Ryan said.
“It was just too long putting them on her.”
The 1200m Wyong race is a lead-up to the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast next month with Sweet Idea claiming the double for Gai Waterhouse last season.
However, Aerobar is unlikely to get the chance to do the same.
“I don’t know, if she goes to the Gold Coast she’ll probably go to the Open sprint race,” Ryan said.
“She won’t go any further because I think we learned the other day she’s a sprinter, not a horse that will run 1400-metres.”
