Coffs Harbour horseman Gordon Yorke is playing mind games with his quality four-year-old One Lickety Split.
Yorke has fitted blinkers to the entire for Friday’s Bailey and Gough First National Real Estate Hcp (1416m) at Grafton.
“I’ve worked him in the gear but not race day,” Yorke said.
“He’s a stallion and it’s been a concern of mine for some time he’s `cheating’, that’s why the quick back-up and blinkers on.
“He did this to me last year.
“The horse is smart. He gets used to things pretty quickly.”
After an impressive win in the Guyra Cup (1400m) at Armidale on March 6, One Lickety Split started favourite when 4-3/4-lengths seventh to Fangles over 1350m at Doomben on March 26.
The son of Medecis had a tough run racing three wide at Doomben and failed to lengthen in the home straight.
“I think the horse is a thief, not a good horse for punters,” Yorke said.
“It’s a funny game racing. He beat Fangles nearly ten lengths at Armidale.”
Yorke believes One Lickety Split is still paying for his two-year-old performances that included a Listed win.
“He’s weighted two kilos above what he’s capable of tomorrow,” Yorke said.
“It’s two years since he was a two-year-old, they’ve (handicappers) got to move on and look at recent form.
“It will take a maximum effort under the weight for him to win tomorrow.
“He’s 15 hands, only a pony.
“We’ll cop it and turn up but it’s sort of a Catch 22 situation.
“If he wins tomorrow, where do we go from there?
“I can’t geld him, he’s too old. The horse has got to get genuine.”
One Lickety Split, the winner of five from 17 starts – three as a juvenile – will carry 59.5kg topweight from barrier one with regular track rider Stephen Traecey in the saddle.
Yorke gave One Lickety Split a good sound out on Wednesday.
“He was livened up, came through it well,” Yorke said.
AAP TURF
