The addition of blinkers to their race-day gear could propel the Tony Gollan-trained two-year-olds Social Conquest and Red Handle into stakes races in the coming weeks.
The Gollan pair are among the favourites for the $100,000 Coolangatta Hotel QTIS Plate which has attracted a field of eight at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The race is used as a promotion for the QTIS March Magic Millions Sales later this month, and has produced some top class winners including Tinto in 2013.
Gollan believes despite the race being small on numbers it could again produce some future top gallopers.
“John Zielke’s horse Spot the Diff is racing well and my pair should go well with blinkers being added,” Gollan said.
Gollan said his horses needed to take a big step up to be stakes class but they got their chance to do that on Saturday.
Red Handle, a $100,000 yearling by Not A Single Doubt, is entered for the Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick on April 9 and could also be a winter carnival horse.
“She has been looking around in her races and the addition of blinkers should switch her on,” Gollan said.
“Blinkers on Not A Single Doubt horses usually work and the breed like wet tracks.”
Red Handle has been placed at both her starts in Brisbane where he had to come from wide barriers and Gollan believes gate three will be an advantage on Saturday.
