Instead of contesting the feature flat race at the Warrnambool carnival, Self Sense will run a day earlier in the main hurdle event.
A lacklustre performance on the flat at Flemington on Anzac Day has forced a rethink from trainer David Brideoake and connections.
The winner of the Yarra Valley and Mornington Cups before a solid fifth in the Chairman’s Quality at Randwick during The Championships, Self Sense was topweight for Thursday’s Warrnambool Cup.
Self Sense was going to be kept to a flat campaign having earned a start in the Caulfield Cup with his Mornington Cup success, but after finishing last at Flemington, more than 17 lengths from the winner, Self Sense switches to Wednesday’s Galleywood Hurdle.
One of the jumping finds of last year, Self Sense won his first three hurdle starts before running second in the Grand National Hurdle.
Wednesday’s Galleywood will be Self Sense’s first run over jumps this campaign, although the gelding has schooled over hurdles in preparation for his autumn races.
Brideoake’s assistant-trainer Alex Woodhams said once Self Sense puts in one ordinary flat performance, there was the possibility of another.
The stable is now banking on Self Sense’s hurdling ability to carry him to victory in Wednesday’s race for which he is the $2 favourite to be ridden by Clayton Douglas.
“David’s happy to run in the Galleywood with the weights,” Woodhams said.
“A week back-up carrying top weight into another flat race with top weight, might have been a bit too much and his hurdle form has been exceptional every time he’s been around.
“I think we can only put it down to him putting in a poor run which he’s capable of doing.
“He can have plenty of off runs when you look at his form.
“We have to trust the horse and go with the judgment that he’s put in an off-run.”
Woodhams said Self Sense had been looked over with a fine tooth comb since the Flemington failure.
While Self Sense races in blinkers on the flat, the headgear will be removed for Wednesday’s race.
“We don’t race him in blinkers over hurdles and he’ll race in his normal hurdle gear and fingers crossed we see him back to his best on Wednesday,” Woodhams said.
